by “Hippie”

The quite dutchmen in the corner of the board are often overlooked by others. With so many large Empires nearby, Hollands 3 units don’t really put much fear into the others…………..a simple, but fatal mistake.

The Dutch position on the game could be said to correspond with England in the standard game. A naval approach is probably the most obvious course of attack and with the choice of either heading east into the Philippines and the Japanese or westward and the British. There is always the possibility of heading north but this will involve gaining a bridgehead against the French and Armies to back it up.

The dutch are quite unique within the game in that they can get 3 undisputed gains at the end of the fist year assuming they have not made any enemies from the onset. The fly in the ointment is Singapore

“I think Holland is a fairly good starting position, however Singapore is the key (to my mind). The rather large sea area to the west is troublesome especially if you are trying to do too much at once! Something could be said for keeping a bit more in reserve “Nick Bond

. If this is not worked out quickly with the British then war is a certainty and sooner rather than later.

I would have been far better of growing slowly but making sure of Singapore. This has been a thorn in my side the whole game so far! With this captured I could also have made use of my one army rather than have them on constant manoeuvres in Sarawak!

The simplest way around problems with Britain is to swap Ceylon for Singapore and then try and work out a timescale for withdrawal. This is difficult for Britain though as it automatically means that he has relinquished any say in the East and has left his Fleet in Hong Kong isolated. If an agreement can be made with Britain, then the threats to Holland are more distant.

If France can establish itself and builds Fleets quickly then this could be a major problem for Holland but the more obvious threat comes from a rapidly expanding Japan. A French/Japanese combination makes life difficult in the East Indies. But generally, the French would be as worried as the Dutch about having Japanese fleets steaming around the South China Seas.

A suitably civilised approach to conflicts around Singapore, Hong Kong and Ceylon would be a tri-nation agreement whereby Britain Concentrated westwards, France Northwards and Holland eastwards. This would be favourable for all and could well be the clinch to Holland grabbing the southeasterly stalemate line. It is an alliance that has got quite some mileage in it as each takes out Japan, Russia and Turkey and China but the reality is that French/dutch relationships are more likely to fray before the others are removed from the game.

Events elsewhere also effect Hollands timescale of security. If Japan, China and Russia get locked into war early on, then it gives Holland more time to establish a safe westerly border and still take control of the Philippines before Japan has the spare forces to send there. If Japan has opted to head south quickly then there is only one place he`s heading for and its got Edam written all over it.

If Holland plans is to knock France out of the game, then this must be attempted early on with a squeeze by China and Holland the most obvious approach. Any delay in this could see help arriving from Britain or Japan worried about the almost certain gain of the SE stalemate line.

Japan has the potential to be a great ally to Holland. Both initially naval powers and both with secure corner positions ,it has the potential to form a lethal combination that draws a dividing line at Manila and each then works Westwards from there. Not so much a juggernaut, more a SuperJunk

Turkey will be keen to open up conversation with Holland. His survival will depend to some degree on British/Russian apathy towards his homelands and the hope that the Dutch intend to put pressure on the British to divert forces away from the west. If this is not the Dutch plan, then the Sultan will be unreliable with information as he try’s to get your aid or Chinas. Double dealing has not been unknown in this situation when it comes to the Ottoman Empire

However, if the British are indeed in Dutch sights. This is the best opportunity to gain the advantage in the West. With the Turk putting pressure in the Western borders and Britain forced westwards initially in the search of supply centres it allows Holland to put a number of fleets into the Indian Ocean and that is sure to get Britains notice quick sharp.

Opening Strategies

F Sum – EIO
F Jav – JavS
A Bor – Sar

This opening show little common ground between Britain and Holland. Ceylon is the Target for the Indian Ocean Fleet and the fleet to the Java Sea either keeps the British Fleet in port (thus making it difficult to keep the Dutch out of the Java Sea the following year without giving up the Malaya build) or has the British Government trying to Guess whether the Dutch fleet will try a landing in Singapore in 1874.

Either way, the Dutch will come away smiling with Two builds to her name and the likelihood being that these will be Navies to try and challenge the British expertise in this area.

F Sum – AndS
F Jav – JavS
A Bor – Sar

Again this can be seen as an anti British opening. The fleet in Singapore again having to decide on the intentions of the Java fleet and with the added danger of quite where the Andaman Sea fleet will do. Its obvious move is to Rangoon and a safe build but it might just try for Malaya instead!!

All this while, the Frenchman could well be looking on smiling at the forthcoming war that will keep two of his potential threats at bay. This opening though might be a precursor to Dutch support of a British fleet into the traditionally french opening build of Bangkok while the dutch fleet moves into Singapore in an agreed swap.

F Sum – EIO
F Jav – SIO
A Bor – Sar

Here, negotiations have been going well. The Java Sea will be kept clear leaving the Dutch and British to go about their business. However, the dutch have much greater designs on India. Ceylon and Sarawak provide the next builds but Holland get a spare fleet to threaten right into the heart of British territorial waters

F Jav – TimS
F Sum – AndS
A Bor – Sar

Here is a much more neutral opening. No agreement has been reached with Britain over Singapore but the Java Sea has been DMZed in the short term for mutual benefit. This then should allow for three builds if the French can be persuaded to keep out of Rangoon.Alternatively, if Holland is not too worried about getting 3 builds then a bounce of Frech forces in Bangkok or a supported move by the British could see the French off to a dodgy start.This move was successfully used in the game C4

F Sum – JavS
F Jav – TimS
A Bor – Sar

Another opening that can lead to a couple of outcomes. Defensively, it will keep the Java Sea free from the British if no agreement is made while still giving the Dutch 2 builds.

If the British are not too worried by the presence of Dutch shipping of the Singapore coast, then this move could be the precursor to a swift occupation of the Philippines. The Java Sea fleet moving swiftly on in 1872 to the Celebes Sea and then a quick convoy of the Sarawak Army over to Davao before the Japanese can get down there.

F Sum – EIO
F Jav – TimS
A Bor – Sar

This is a common opening for the Dutch. Basically a land grab to get the 3 certain builds. It relies on the British not trying anything funny with its Singapore Fleet that could spell a complete disaster for the Dutch early in the game.

The Dutch position at the start of the game has much to commend it. A strong naval force could soon be built up and a close proximity to the Southeast stalemate line make the chances of hanging around for quite some time a good bet. Add to this the seemingly magical nature of the Dutch provinces not appearing as a threat to the other protagonists on the board should make the Dutch a pleasure to play.