<Li> La Naval de Manila </Li> <Li> Puerto de Cavite </Li> <P> The Dutch Revolt (1568--1648) was the successful revolt of the northern, largely Protestant Seven Provinces of the Low Countries against the rule of the Roman Catholic King Philip II of Spain, hereditary ruler of the provinces . The southern provinces initially joined in the revolt but later submitted to Spain . </P> <P> The religious "clash of cultures" built up gradually but inexorably into outbursts of violence against the perceived repression of the Habsburg Crown . These tensions led to the formation of the independent Dutch Republic, whose first leader was William of Orange, followed by several of his descendants and relations . This revolt was one of the first successful secessions in Europe, and led to one of the first European republics of the modern era, the United Provinces . </P>

Who did the dutch have to fight for their independence