In fact it was William III's need for war finance that led to the establishment of the Bank although, of course, the idea had its opponents. A contemporary comment is recorded thus:- "Others said this project [the idea of a national bank] came from Holland, and therefore would not hear of it, since we had too many Dutch things already…". Nevertheless much of what we take for granted today - freedom of speech and of the Press, and parliamentary democracy - are the supremely important legacies whose foundations were laid by the Glorious Revolution, William and Mary and the Dutch.
Published on
02 July 2002
Press release
