I am doing my very first game with the Dutch, just to see how the game works.
My approach is somehow different, so it may be of some interest.

II play h/h. My intention is to put the focus on the oversea colonies and to secure my position at Europe mainly with diplomacy.

Therefore, first of all I made a military and trade alliance with Cologne. They also gave me rights to pass their territory and money. Next was Hannover, another military pact, more money and crossing rights. Finally I made a military pact with Württemberg.

Next step was France. I changed my colony on the South American mainland for a military pact and Lorraine. This has two advantages: I have two provinces at Europe, which should increase my strength there and my American forces were now concentrated on this island in the Atlantic.
With the alliances with Austria, England, France and the smaller countries and the pockets filled with gold I was looking forward into a bright future. I started to build a garrison at Lorraine and three line regiments at my American colony. I also upgraded the mine at India. My focus in research was science.

Next turn Prussia declared war against Austria. Being a good ally, I stepped aside and made a landing at the coasts of Brandenburg. Prussians attacked, I defeated them and took Berlin. So I had three fine provinces at Europe including another school.

Now, troubles began. Prussia did not want to make peace and I did not want to chase them. The population in this conquered province stayed unhappy and I had to free it from taxation.

Saxony declared war and even my ally Württemberg. However, I was pleased to see that France declared war on Württemberg.

Now I had a small, four unit garrison at the Netherlands, a half full army at Lorraine and another three quarter at Berlin. The Lorraine army was not big enough to attack the full army at Württemberg. It could also not attack the Spaniards at Flanders, because of Wurttemberg. My garrison at Berlin was tied down because of the unrest. So I could not do much and, even worse, I began to run out of money.

Here I recalled my original plans and my army at America. It was four line and two militia regiments, costing a lot of money without any benefit. So I made them jump into the boats and sail north to that Spanish island. I landed there and overran the garrison. Of course, this meant war with Spain and France joined them. To my surprise, the Spanish army left Flanders and turned eastward to attack me. It was a tough fight, but I hold the fort and repelled the Spaniards. Next turn I gathered every man at the Netherlands, marched south and took Flanders. France did not bother me and Württemberg was quiet, too.

Then I did some island hoping, taking Cuba and then jumping on the mainland to take Mexico. I succeeded and was waiting for the Spanish counterstrike. They gathered troops south of Mexico and also crossed France to send a new army to Flanders.

I do not like to fight if there can be a peaceful solution for both sides, so I started to negotiate. In the end, Spain accepted peace on my terms, which means I received the two provinces south of Mexico.

Now I had enough cash flow and the situation at Europe is still quiet, although I have many enemies. So now I started to upgrade my new mines in the New World and to build up an army at Mexico. My plans include building a navy to fight pirates and to take some of the French colonies, before I finally make peace with them.

However, I had to change my plans, as the Pueblos decided to invade me. These bloody heathens are continuously sending new full armies into my territory. I filled my rows and waited for them at the gates of Mexico City. Here, misfortune reached me.

The heathens camped outside of the city. I decided to attack, with not less than three mobile artillery regiments, four line regiments, three dragoons and some auxiliaries. I took it slowly – as you never know where they hide. My garrison of Mexico joined and I slowly narrowed the ring around the Pueblos. They suffered lot of casualties and their rows finally broke down. Almost the complete army was crashed and even their chief ran away. However, the time limit was reached and therefore I was the looser. My army retreated, foolishly not into the town but way east. So Mexico City is completely undefended and the Pueblos can occupy it the next turn.

Never mind! My army is much stronger than their, so I will take it back and eliminate the Pueblo army. Then I will take care about the other one in the north.