Stevin, Huygens and the Dutch republic : The golden age of mathematics

Mathematics played its role in the rise of the Dutch Republic. Simon Stevin and Christiaan Huygens were key figures in this. Though from very different backgrounds, both gave shape to Dutch culture. Fokko Jan Dijksterhuis, who recently received an NWO-vidi grant for his research on the history of mathematics, discusses their influence on mathematics and its historical significance.