High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Whaling in the Netherlands was a centuries long tradition.The history of Dutch whaling begins with 17th century exploration of Arctic fishing grounds; and the profitability of whaling in the 18th century drove further growth. Increased competition and political upheavals in Europe affected the stability of this maritime industry in the 19th century; and a combination of these factors cut short any further growth of Dutch whaling in the Antarctic.