During the restoration of the Stuart dynasty, the struggle between Britain and the Netherlands for maritime trade and overseas colonies became more intense. The two countries have colonies in India, the West Indies, the Americas and Africa. The two countries competed for fishing in the North Sea. Britain strongly encourages merchants to engage in maritime trade.
In 1660, the navigation regulations were revised. The Second Dutch-British War also had internal reasons within the Stuart dynasty. Charles I’s son-in-law, the Dutch ruling William II, died in 1650, and his son Orange William lost his ruling position. Therefore, King Charles II launched the second Anglo-Dutch War to restore the ruling status of his relatives.
The war broke out in 1664, and it was officially declared in 1665. The war was fought in the English Channel, North America and the coasts of Africa.
In the English Channel battle, the weakness of the British restoration dynasty was exposed, and the fleet command was mostly corrupt and incompetent nobles. The fleet was not supplied with weapons and ammunition, and soldiers were not paid. Britain was defeated, and the Dutch navy led by Druut to the Thames estuary, directly threatening London. The Dutch fleet was sailing in the English Channel, with a flag on the bow, indicating that they had leveled the British fleet at sea. The British fleet also looted the Dutch coast and occupied the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam in North America.
On July 31, 1667, Britain and the Netherlands concluded the Breda Peace Treaty. The Netherlands ceded New Amsterdam in North America to the United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom renamed the place New York in honor of the Duke of York. Britain ceded the Spice Islands to the Netherlands, and British trade with the East was limited to the Indian continent. The Dutch fortresses along the coast of Africa are all owned by Britain. However, the navigation regulations have been slightly relaxed.