Gevulde Speculaas – Dutch spiced cookies filled with a sweet almond mixture. These spiced cookies are so much a part of the ancient spice-routes. I am posting these as part of the #creativecookieexchange for Holiday Baking. Spices were a sign of affluence and a chance to make lots of money in the 16th century. The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands established the Dutch East India Company around 1600 to gain monopoly over the spice trade. The trade of spices, rubber, tobacco, coffee, sugar, tea etc from Dutch India contributed significantly to the growth and prosperity of the company and …