Discovering the Dutch

by Besamusca, Emmeline

• ISBN13: 9789089641007
• ISBN10: 9089641009
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-07-15
• Publisher: Amsterdam Univ Pr

Summary

What are the most salient and sparkling facts about the Netherlands that those interested in its history need to know? This volume tackles the heart of this question of Dutch identity through a number of essential themes that run through the culture, history, and society of the Netherlands. Running the gamut from the Randstad to the Dutch Golden Age, from William of Orange to Anne Frank,Discovering the Dutchuses a series of charming vignettes written by academic experts in their fields in order to address historical and contemporary issues such as immigration, tolerance, and the struggle against water, as well as issues of culturepainting, literature, architecture, and design among them.

Author Biography

Emmeline Besamusca is a lecturer in Dutch culture at Utrecht University and the University of Vienna. Jaap Verheul is a lecturer in history and director of the Amsterdam studies program at Utrecht University.

Table of Contents

Map of The Netherlands	p. 9
Introduction	p. 11
Neither Wooden Legs nor Wooden Shoes: Elusive Encounters with Dutch Identity	p. 14
Society
Citizens, Coalitions and the Crown	p. 19
Princess Máxima: Enchanting the Monarchy	p. 21
Binnenhof: Traditional Heart of a Modern Democracy	p. 24
The Economy of the Polder	p. 33
Bulbs, Flowers and Cheese: The Agricultural Face of an Urban Economy	p. 33
Royal Dutch Shell: Corporate Legacy of Colonialism	p. 37
Dilemmas of the Welfare State	p. 45
Labor Productivity: Balancing Work and Leisure	p. 46
Pensions: Well-Deserved and Well-Funded	p. 51
Randstad Holland	p. 57
The Amsterdam Canal Ring: Urban Heritage of the Golden Age	p. 59
The Port of Rotterdam: A Logistical Hub of Europe	p. 63
Idealism and Self-Interest in World Politics	p. 71
Hollanditis: The Politics of Pacifism	p. 73
Srebrenica: A Catastrophic Peace Mission	p. 79
History
From the Periphery to the Center	p. 85
The Roman Limes: A Cultural Meeting Place	p. 87
Hebban Olla Vogala: The Beginnings of Literature	p. 93
The Golden Age	p. 97
The Tulip Bubble: Horticultural Speculation	p. 99
William of Orange: Founding Father	p. 103
A Tradition of Tolerance	p. 109
Hugo Grotius: Founder of Enlightenment Thought	p. 112
Baruch de Spinoza: Philosopher of Liberty	p. 115
Politics between Accommodation and Commotion	p. 121
Pillarization: Segregation and Consensus	p. 122
Pim Fortuyn: Libertarian Populist	p. 129
The Second World War - Dilemmas of Occupation	p. 135
Ausweis: The Dangers of Identity Registration	p. 138
Anne Frank: Icon of the Holocaust	p. 142
Art & Culture
The Making of Rembrandt and Van Gogh	p. 149
Vermeer: Interior Fantasies	p. 153
Mondrian: Is this Art?	p. 158
Style and Lifestyle in Architecture	p. 163
The Rietveld Schröder House: Icon of Architecture for the Modern Age	p. 167
The Royal Tropical Institute: Architectural Symbol of Colonialism	p. 175
Literature, Authors and Public Debate	p. 179
Multatuli: Anti-Colonial Literature	p. 182
The Assault: Writing the Second World War	p. 186
Three Feminist Waves	p. 191
JMobilizing Female Discontent	p. 193
Second-Wave Feminism and the Media	p. 197
Excellence and Egalitarianism in Higher Education	p. 203
Aletta Jacobs: Emancipation through Education	p. 207
University College: Challenging Academic Traditions	p. 211
Contemporary Issues
Religious Diversification or Secularization?	p. 217
The Portuguese Synagogue: Monument of Asylum	p. 222
Mosques in the Polder: Corner Stones or Stumbling Blocks?	p. 226
Immigration and Multiculturalism	p. 231
Indonesian Rijsttafel: Sharing the Table	p. 233
Ahmed Aboutaleb: Multicultural Mayor	p. 239
Law in Action	p. 243
Coffeeshops: From Permissiveness to Control	p. 246
Subsidies: Good Intentions, Bad Results	p. 250
Living with Water	p. 255
The Beemster Polder: Masterpiece of Designed Reclamation	p. 256
The Great Flood: Inducement for the Delta Works	p. 259
In Foreign Eyes	p. 267
Hans Brinker: Morality Behind the Dikes	p. 272
Frau Antje: Ambassador of Dutchness	p. 275
Notes	p. 279
About the Authors	p. 290
Illustrations	p. 295
Index	p. 297
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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