 In any case , the peace turned out to be of short duration . On May 18 , 1803 , slightly more than a year after the peace , war resumed . Napoleon was now intent on the destruction of Great Britain by culminating in an ambitious planned invasion . The Batavian Republic was to play a major supporting role in this . As the Franco @-@ Batavian alliance 's embodiment , the Staatsbewind was forced to assent to a Convention bringing the total of French and Batavian forces in the Netherlands to 35 @,@ 000 . In addition , 9 @,@ 000 Batavian troops were earmarked for the proposed overseas expedition . Even more importantly , the Dutch were to supply , by December 1803 , five ships @-@ of @-@ the @-@ line , five frigates , 100 gun boats , and 250 flat @-@ bottomed transport craft , capable of holding 60 – 80 men . In total the Dutch were meant to provide transport for 25 @,@ 000 men and 2 @,@ 500 horses ; the major part of Napoleon 's invasion " armada " , and all at Dutch expense . It was all a fantasy on Napoleon 's part , but this did not diminish the real burden it imposed on the finances of the Republic , and on its economy . 
