Oblasts

Oblasts are the largest administrative division within the nation of New Netherland. Similar to states or provinces in other countries, oblasts are semi-autonomous regions with their own governments, economies, and cultural identities. The oblast system was established in the late 18th century after New Netherland gained independence from the Dutch Kingdom.

Origins and Establishment

The division of New Netherland into oblasts dates back to the colonial era, when the Dutch West India Company governed the territory as a series of local districts. After the successful New Netherland Revolution of 1796, the new nation's founders sought to balance centralized authority with regional autonomy. They formalized the existing districts into a system of oblasts, each with an elected governor and legislature.

This structure was intended to prevent the dominance of any single region or ethnicity over the others. It also allowed the oblasts to maintain distinct cultures, languages, and economic specialties that had developed during the colonial period. Over time, the oblasts evolved into semi-sovereign entities with their own constitutions, civil codes, and security forces.

Major Oblasts

New Netherland is divided into 12 oblasts, each with its own unique geography, demographics, and history:

• North Holland: Home to the capital city of New Rotterdam, this industrial and financial powerhouse is the most populous and affluent oblast.
• South Holland: The historic heart of Dutch settlement, with a strong agricultural and maritime economy.
• Zeeland: A coastal region known for its fishing, shipbuilding, and Zeelandic dialect.
• Utrecht: A central oblast with a mix of industry, academia, and religious institutions.
• Gelderland: A largely rural region with a tradition of Anabaptism and small-scale farming.
• Overijssel: Known for its textile mills, Hanseatic trading, and unique Salland dialect.
• Drenthe: A sparsely populated oblast with a strong Drenthic cultural identity.
• Friesland: An autonomous northern oblast with its own Frisian language and traditional seafaring culture.
• Groningen: A major natural gas and chemical production center, as well as a center of Humanism.
• Limburg: A southern oblast with strong Romance linguistic and cultural ties to its neighbors.
• Noord-Brabant: A diverse region blending urban manufacturing, rural farmland, and pockets of Catholicism.
• Flevoland: The youngest and most recently settled of the oblasts, reclaimed from the sea in the 20th century.

Role in Government and Economy

Each oblast has its own elected governor, legislature, and court system, giving them significant autonomy from the national government in New Rotterdam. Oblasts are responsible for administering healthcare, education, infrastructure, and other public services within their borders.

While New Netherland has a unified economy, the oblasts are still centers of distinctive industries and economic specialties. For example, Gelderland is known for its agriculture, Zeeland for fishing and shipbuilding, and North Holland as a global financial hub. Oblasts also maintain their own tax systems, customs, and trade policies to a degree.

This decentralized structure has enabled the oblasts to preserve regional languages, cultures, and identities, sometimes in tension with the push for national unity. Disputes over the balance of power between the oblasts and the federal government in New Rotterdam have occasionally flared into political crises. However, most citizens maintain a strong sense of both their oblast and national identities.