Five admiralties, local interests, and convoy money

Local disputes and convoy revenues produced five separate Dutch admiralties concentrated in Holland, Zeeland, and Friesland. Rotterdam protected trade in southern Holland, while Zeeland established its own organization to capture the same convoy advantages. Elizabeth I's Earl of Leicester promoted a separate Amsterdam admiralty after tiring of arbitrating disputes over regional protection, and later arguments about coverage and convoy income produced the Northern Quarter and Friesland institutions. Their escorts allowed merchants to reduce defensive armament, carry more cargo, and improve the chance that profitable voyages reached home. In peacetime, however, the admiralties depended heavily on payments from the merchants they served, limiting the funds available for a standing battle fleet. Only three provinces directly sustained this five-part system, so the burden was not spread evenly across the Republic. When the States General ordered 150 additional ships, five institutions competed for vessels, crews, money, and regional advantage instead of executing one unified programme.