'This book (as well as the attached Istanbul Memoirs of the First Dutch Ambassador Cornelius Haga and the Ottoman Empire's official records and his Register Book about his activites in Istanbul) is a very timely contribution to the field which once again illustrates the importance of studying the Ottoman history as world history. '

Halil İnalcık Bilkent University

Four Centuries of Diplomatic and Economic Relations Between Turkey and the Netherlands provides a fresh interpretation of the historical relations between these two important powers and also Turkey-Europe relations.

In the foreword Halil İNALCIK a prominent global historian underlines the joint Ottoman-Dutch role in shaping the European and the World history. In the following chapter Levent KIRVAL focuses on the history of the economic and political relations between Turkey and the European powers and he particularly focuses on the economic and cultural interactions between the Turks and the Europeans. Subsequently Bülent ARI first gives brief information about the phases of Dutch revolt which started in 1567 against the Spanish oppression and then evaluates the political atmosphere of the period and the conflicts between the European states. Next Mustafa GÜLEÇ evaluates the interpretations of various scholars concerning the early Ottoman-Dutch relations and gives an overall atmosphere of the commercial relations of individual entrepreneurs before the grant of Dutch capitulations. Followingly Mehmet BULUT focuses on the commercial activities in the Mediterranean in the 17th and 18th century. Consequently Mehmet TÜTÜNCÜ has an interesting chapter under the title "Grand Dutch Admiral Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter's Mediterranean Expedition and the Peace Treaties He Concluded in 1662 with Ottoman Algeria".

The book closes with two interesting annexes. Annex I of the book is composed of the memoirs of first Dutch ambassador in Istanbul Cornelius HAGA (1578-1654). The book is concluded with Annex II entitled "The Register Book of Cornelius Haga" which covers his activities in İstanbul.

The book will be essential for historians and international relations scholars.