Golden Age fter disengaging themselves from the Habsburg Empire at the end of the 16th century and becoming a n independent state, a period of great prosperity started for the Northern Netherlands. Mercantile spirit ruled, Holland bought and sold all over the world. Leiden was famous for its cloth industry. Because of the growing wealth the city quickly expanded and rich houses were built, which can still be admired along the canals, such as the Rapenburg. But the numerous complexes of almshouses also refer to the prosperity of the city; many merchants tried to secure their place in heaven through building this provision for old age pensioners. Many famous painters, among them Rembrandt van Rijn, lived in this city. The market, a function Leiden had since the Middle Ages, became more and more important, as did the many waterways which contributed to the economic boom.