What is regenten?

Regenten were a powerful political group in the Netherlands during the 17th and 18th centuries. They were wealthy merchants and landowners who governed the cities and provinces of the Dutch Republic. The regenten were typically members of the bourgeois class and were seen as an alternative to the aristocracy that dominated other European states.

The regenten played a significant role in the Dutch Golden Age, overseeing the growth of trade and commerce that made the Netherlands one of the wealthiest nations in Europe. They also supported the arts and sciences, funding universities, museums, and artists.

Despite their wealth and influence, the regenten were not always popular among the broader population. Many saw them as corrupt and self-serving, and there were frequent clashes between the regenten and the common people. This tension eventually contributed to the decline of the Dutch Republic in the 18th century.

Today, the term "regenten" is sometimes used to refer to any elite political or economic class that exercises power and influence.