Who were the primary patrons for Rembrandt and other Dutch artists working in the Netherlands in the seventeenth century?

Wealthy merchants, nobles, and bankers.              

Explanation:

The patrons for Dutch artists in the Netherlands during the 17th century were merchants and bankers who replaced the patronage of the Church.

In the 17th century, the Netherlands became to known as the Dutch Golden Age. With the coming of the Dutch East India Company at the beginning of the 17th century led them to hold maritime and economic power. Trading led to the rise of the wealthy aristocracy and merchants.