The Royal Netherlands Navy (Dutch: Koninklijke Marine, Royal Navy) is the navy of the Netherlands. Its origins date back to the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) the war of independence from the House of Habsburg who ruled over the Habsburg Netherlands.During the 17th century the navy of the Dutch Republic (1581–1795) was one of the most powerful naval forces in the world and played an active role in wars against England, France, Spain and several other European powers.