Amsterdam and a few other Dutch cities, because the Netherlands was an unusual center of religious tolerance. Since Portuguese Jews had not lived under
important factor in the growth of the Netherlands as an economic power was the influx of groups seeking religioustoleration of the Dutch Republic. In particular
Enlightenment, avowed and open atheism was made possible by the advance of religioustoleration, but was also far from encouraged. Accusations of atheism were common
freedom of religion and was thus one of the first unlimited edicts of religioustoleration. An additional declaration allowed provinces and cities that wished
apologia for religioustoleration, their frame of reference was theological, rather than secular in nature and they were not calling for religious pluralism