History of Belgium - 17th and 18th Centuries

17th and 18th Centuries

During the 17th century, Antwerp was a major European center for commerce, industry and art. The Brueghels, Peter Paul Rubens and Van Dyck's baroque paintings were created during this period. See also:

• Gerardus Mercator
• Jodocus Hondius
• War of Devolution, Franco-Dutch War, War of the Reunions, Nine Years War, War of the Spanish Succession

The Belgian and Luxembourgish territories (except the Bishopric of Liège) were transferred to the Austrian Habsburgs (1713–1794) after the War of the Spanish Succession when the French Bourbon Dynasty inherited Spain at the price of abandoning many Spanish possessions. They were thus called the Austrian Netherlands from 1713 to 1794.