Floris V

Floris V was known as "der Keerlen God" (God of the Peasants) because of his policies favoring them over the nobility. His idea, however, was to encourage trade. At the same time, he tried to modernize the administration of his realm.

As a result, he was responsive to the wishes of Delft's citizens to govern more of their own affairs, especially collecting taxes. He also released them from having to pay tolls to rural nobles through whose land they imported and exported goods via the canal system.