Question

The Netherlands were successful at, and depended on,

Answer 1

Generally speaking, the Netherlands were successful at, and depended on, "maritime trade," based mostly on their proximity to the ocean, however agriculture also played a major role. 

Answer 2

The Netherlands were successful at, and depended on, maritime trade. Option C is correct.

Maritime trade refers to the type of trade involving the transport of goods through the sea, using ships. As a result of the risk involved in such kind of transport, the contracts related to this type of trade have some specific regulation, which evolved from customs and regulation from ancient times.

The Netherlands is a country located mainly in Northwestern Europe. The European portion of the Netherlands consists of twelve separate provinces that border Germany to the east, Belgium to the south, and the North Sea to the northwest, with maritime borders in the North Sea with Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.