The success of the Baltic Mother Trade and the domestic economy allowed the Dutch to expand trade globally in the early 1600's. This success came from the Dutch superior financial and economic standing over its neighbors and further they went on to establish large financial institutions.
When Portugal was under Spain's rule, they closed off access to its salt supply. The Dutch took off to find salt in Venezuela and ended up also finding sugar from the Carribean and began to help supply African slaves to the West Indie plantations that were experiencing a shortage of slaves. Soon the Dutch began establishing colonies and sugar plantations of their own. In a short period of time, the Dutch were in control of the sugar trade.
This new trading empire and continued struggle with Spain lead the Dutch to create its own navy for protection and expanded into its golden age. This time of splendor and prosperity was short lived though and by 1670's King Louis XIV launched a series of wars to take down the Protestants he had complete distain for. At the same time, England was gaining strength in their naval and economic powers and started attacking via sea. The Dutch succeeded to England to take over its economic, trading, and naval power primary status by 1700.
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