In the Netherlands, the 17th century is considered the Golden Age. This era of success and prosperity is marked by people like Rembrandt and the Dutch East India Company.
If one looks upon the political situation in the Netherlands at the time, calling the 17th century the Golden Age might seem a tad bit strange. The country was at war almost constantly, the French and the Spanish invaded the Netherlands. But cultural and colonial expansion was heavy, marking the Dutch spot on the world map for ever.