The Dutch Republic was not the first country where newspapers were published. There are earlier examples from Germany. But in Amsterdam the conditions for the gathering and publishing of news appeared to be much better than in other places. There was a well-developed culture of printing and publishing in the city, and it had one of the most important international ports of its time; news could easily be gathered from all directions: from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, and via the river Rhine and land roads from Germany and central Europe. And the Dutch Republic enjoyed relative freedom of the press. As long as news were not critical of the government and not blasphemic, they could be published. There were hardly any obstructions for the dissemination of international news.
As the publication of newspapers proved a commercial success in early 17th century Amsterdam, competition quickly emerged. Within a few years, different titles appeared, first in Amsterdam and shortly after in other Dutch cities. They each tried to publish the latest and most reliable information, gathered by a network of informants both in the Republic and abroad at a time when in the surrounding countries publishers were hampered by strict political censorship.
The quality, reliability and information density of early 17th century Dutch newspapers made them not only attractive to Dutch people, but also to an international audience. For tradesmen, ship-owners, sovereigns, diplomats, intelligence services and curious civilians, Dutch newspapers contained a wealth of information on international affairs, especially concerning the devastating Thirty Years War (1618-1648). Reading Dutch newspapers could save a ship-owner from sending his valuable ships, with even more valuable cargo, into the hands of pirate-infested seas. It could prevent a tradesman from travelling into a war zone. And it helped governments get a comprehensive picture of events as they unfolded. That is why Dutch newspapers were sent all over Europe.