In half of the seventeenth century, the civil war in Flanders ended.
But the blockade of Antwerp remained.
To do this, the Dutch used 2 forts at the entrance of the river Scheldt.
These two fortresses exist today
and can be seen in the map bellow.
The reason for maintaining the blockade in peacetime
is clear to me: The Dutch were waiting for the opportunity
to reconquer Belgium. Lift the blockade would be for them
such as recognizing an independent Belgium.
Beyond the blockade of Antwerp, also were used another political
and propagandistic weapons. Those Dutch supporters of
peace and reconciliation with Belgium were executed.
Also the belicous Calvinist church manipulated the population
to support the war against Belgium. Furthermore, private
companies were created (as the Company of the West Indies),
to encourage the piracy and plunder against the trade with Belgium ...
The blockade of Antwerp was the beginning of the Dutch maritime expansion,
attacking another nation for reach the objectives.
It was the beggining of the piracy.
Later England would take the model of Holland
and would be also launched to piracy as a way of overseas expansion.