This partly stemmed from old perceived slights: the Dutch were considered to have shown themselves ungrateful for the aid they had received against the Spanish by growing stronger than their former English protectors; they caught most of the herring off the English east coast; they had driven the English out of the East Indies; and they vociferously appealed to the principle of free trade to circumvent taxation in the English colonies.
Asta se datora vechilor preconcepții: se considera că neerlandezii s-au arătat nerecunoscători pentru ajutorul primit împotriva spaniolilor, devenind mai puternici decât foștii lor protectori englezi; pescuiau cei mai mulți heringi pe coasta de est a Angliei; i-au alungat pe englezi din Indiile de Est; susțineau vehement principiul comerțului liber pentru a ocoli taxele din coloniile engleze.