The Napoleonic years in Holland, 1806–1813, were a time of trouble and turmoil. The Dutch republican polity was ended when Napoleon proclaimed his younger brother Louis King of Holland in June 1806. In 1810, Holland even ceased to exist as an independent state, when it was incorporated in the French Empire. The Dutch also suffered a severe economic crisis after 1806, as a result of the Continental Blockade. Notwithstanding a series of regulations and a variety of offices charged with implementing them, the enforcement of the Blockade remained imperfect. Smuggling flourished, with Dutch North Sea fishermen, facilitated by the relatively mild stance of the British Navy, playing an important role. Police files, some recently rediscovered, demonstrate that their role was even more substantial when it came to the illegal transport of passengers and mail. Dutch North Sea fishermen, who dominated the illicit conveyance of travellers and correspondence, mainly lived near Rotterdam and the Meuse estuary. As well as goods and raw materials, they conveyed information and served as mediators in commercial networks. The proximity of these fishermen boosted the strategic advantage of local merchants and thereby contributed to the resilience of Rotterdam in this time of crisis.

1806 年至 1813 年在荷兰的拿破仑年间，是一个充满麻烦和动荡的时期。1806 年 6 月拿破仑宣布他的弟弟路易为荷兰国王时，荷兰共和政体结束。1810 年，荷兰并入法兰西帝国，甚至不再作为一个独立国家存在。由于大陆封锁，荷兰人在 1806 年之后也遭受了严重的经济危机。尽管有一系列法规和各种负责实施这些法规的办公室，封锁的执行仍然不完善。走私活动蓬勃发展，荷兰北海渔民在英国海军相对温和的立场的推动下发挥了重要作用。警方档案，一些最近重新发现，证明他们在非法运输乘客和邮件方面的作用更加重要。荷兰北海渔民主要居住在鹿特丹和默兹河口附近，他们主要居住在非法运输旅客和信件中。除了商品和原材料，他们还传递信息并在商业网络中充当中介。这些渔民的临近增强了当地商人的战略优势，从而有助于鹿特丹在危机时期的复原力。