Hello!! I know I JUST followed you and I’m still working on this blog, but I’d LOVE to hear you “yapping” more about the Netherlands and Turkiye / Ottoman Empire!! ( I also actually enjoy them as a ship, 👀 but it’s a hard life, that. 😞)
You've activated my trap card! Nothing I love more as a history student and Hetalia enjoyer than talking about a ship I like with historical basis 😌😌
There's quite a lot of material on the relations between the NL, or back then the Dutch Republic and the Ottoman Empire/Turkey, so I'll give a short review of my thoughts until I do an actual deep dive with screenshots of sources (and probably draw them)(Thanks Alexander H. De Groot for publishing an entire book about it)!
Officially, the relations between the Dutch and the Ottomans started in 1612, with them establishing diplomatic relations with each other in the wake of the 80 years war when the Dutch fought against the Spanish. Of course, their relations go much further back than that though! Dutch merchants in the Levant (incredibly important location!), pilgrims, diplomats, travellers, artisans - they all have visited the Ottoman empire in the centuries before to exchange knowledge, goods, etc. The mercantile relations between the Dutch and the Ottomans were also the most important! Again, there is a lot of information on these trade relations, so that'll have to do for another post. The Dutch trade in the Levant, especially after official relations were established, grew enormously (perhaps even larger than the Venetian and English trade there) - especially in the time of the 12 Years Truce (1609-1621) when the Dutch had time to expand their network.
Another important reason for Dutch-Ottoman relations was the common enemy Spain, whom proved to be a real pain in the ass for both of them. Unofficially, the Ottomans had been supporting the Dutch rebels since the start of the 80 Years War in the 1560s. Partially because the Ottomans were so powerful, the Dutch were the ones to first seek out official relations in the 1600s, which led to the earlier mentioned diplomatic agreement in 1612. After the end of the 80 Years War, in 1648, the relations between the Dutch and the Ottomans only increased more and more intensely.
So now back to the actual personifications - I think that these close ties in the middle ages and especially the 17th/18th century really give us a lot to work with (forgive me for not yet going into the later centuries, my specialty lies more in the renaissance age and classical times!). My interpretation of Ned in the medieval and early renaissance times goes like this: he was under mentorship of Holland and did a lot of tasks for him, such as trade and establishing relations with other personifications, when Holland was busy with other things. So Ned would've probably been in the Ottoman empire quite a few times when he was younger in the 16th and 15th centuries at least. From these visitations Turkey and Ned would've known each other. I think they'd be curious - Turkey is older and more experienced in life, yet he is intensely curious of the world around him. Ned would've gladly exhanged stories and knowledge of his home and time in other Western/Northern European nations. They both have a similar mind for trade and commercialism, yet can also appreciate the arts and of course, flowers (tulip twins lets go!). Ned was quite a charming fellow back in the day before he became quite cold and stand offish in the later 18th, 19th century, so Turkey might've been charmed or at least bemused by him. Once tensions between Spain and the Dutch provinces began to rise, and war came on the horizon, Ned and Turkey would have something new to bond over : their shared distaste of Spain. Although Spain, in my headcanon, doesn't often visit the Dutch provinces bc they are so independent, Ned probably got most of his info about him from Holland and other provinces, who all are *not* fond of anyone policing them. I also like to imagine Turkey comforting Ned during the 80 Years War, because for a very long time the Dutch rebels suffered a *lot* of defeat and setbacks against the Spanish. The Ottoman's support would've definitely helped. Skipping over quite a bit of potential growth and relations, in the later 17th century Ned and Turkey would be a bit more on the same power level, in the way that Ned was now one of the (if not the) richest nations in the world. But I imagine they'd still fall back on old habits like gossiping and shopping for pretty works of art or furniture. These two would probably also enjoy diving into works of literature from other languages and times long gone together. Although they might not see each other much, as both are intensely busy men, the time spend together would be incredibly precies and they'd definitely make the most of it. Ned would definitely consider Turkey a close companion if nothing more.
Hope I didn't yap too much hahahah, feel free to ask more or share your own ideas, I love these two!!! 🥹🥹🥹
