| Description |
304 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color maps ; 24 cm |
| Contents |
Machine generated contents note: Neither Wooden Legs nor Wooden Shoes: Elusive Encounters with Dutch Identity / Wiljan van den Akker -- Society -- 1. Citizens, Coalitions and the Crown / Emmeline Besamusca -- Enchanting the Monarchy / Princess Maxima -- Traditional Heart of a Modern Democracy / Binnenhof -- 2. The Economy of the Polder / Jan Luiten van Zanden -- Bulbs, Flowers and Cheese: The Agricultural Face of an Urban Economy -- Royal Dutch Shell: Corporate Legacy of Colonialism -- 3. Dilemmas of the Welfare State / Lex Heerma van Voss -- Labor Productivity: Balancing Work and Leisure -- Pensions: Well-Deserved and Well-Funded -- 4. Randstad Holland / Rob van der Vaart -- The Amsterdam Canal Ring: Urban Heritage of the Golden Age -- The Port of Rotterdam: A Logistical Hub of Europe -- 5. Idealism and Self-Interest in World Politics / Duco Hellema -- Hollanditis: The Politics of Pacifism -- Srebrenica: A Catastrophic Peace Mission -- History -- 6. From the Periphery to the Center / Marco Mostert -- The Roman Limes: A Cultural Meeting Place -- Hebban Olla Vogala: The Beginnings of Literature -- 7. The Golden Age / Maarten Prak -- The Tulip Bubble: Horticultural Speculation -- William of Orange: Founding Father -- 8. A Tradition of Tolerance / Wijnand Mijnhardt -- Hugo Grotius: Founder of Enlightenment Thought -- Baruch de Spinoza: Philosopher of Liberty -- 9. Politics between Accommodation and Commotion / Ido de Haan -- Pillarization: Segregation and Consensus -- Pim Fortuyn: Libertarian Populist -- 10. The Second World War -- Dilemmas of Occupation / Christ Klep -- Ausweis: The Dangers of Identity Registration -- Icon of the Holocaust / Anne Frank -- Art & Culture -- 11. The Making of Rembrandt and Van Gogh / Quirine van der Steen -- Vermeer: Interior Fantasies -- Mondrian: Is this Art? -- 12. Style and Lifestyle in Architecture / Rob Dettingmeijer -- Icon of Architecture for the Modern Age / The Rietveld Schroder House -- Architectural Symbol of Colonialism / The Royal Tropical Institute -- 13. Literature, Authors and Public Debate / Wilbert Smulders -- Multatuli: Anti-Colonial Literature -- The Assault: Writing the Second World War -- 14. Three Feminist Waves / Iris van der Tuin -- Mobilizing Female Discontent / Joke Smit -- Second-Wave Feminism and the Media / Dolle Mina -- 15. Excellence and Egalitarianism in Higher Education / Jan Veldhuis -- Emancipation through Education / Aletta Jacobs -- Challenging Academic Traditions / University College -- Contemporary Issues -- 16. Religious Diversification or Secularization? / David Bos -- The Portuguese Synagogue: Monument of Asylum -- Mosques in the Polder: Corner Stones or Stumbling Blocks? -- 17. Immigration and Multiculturalism / Han Entzinger -- Indonesian Rijsttafel: Sharing the Table -- Multicultural Mayor / Ahmed Aboutaleb -- 18. Law in Action / Freek Bruinsma -- Coffeeshops: From Permissiveness to Control -- Subsidies: Good Intentions, Bad Results -- 19. Living with Water / Rob van der Vaart -- The Beemster Polder: Masterpiece of Designed Reclamation -- The Great Flood: Inducement for the Delta Works -- 20. In Foreign Eyes / Jaap Verheul -- Morality Behind the Dikes / Hans Brinker -- Ambassador of Dutchness / Frau Antje. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-289) and index. |
| Summary |
How did the Netherlands become a byword for welfare state and the "poldermodel"? What explains the fabulous political and cultural success of the Dutch Golden Age? What is the place of the Queen in a modern parliamentary democracy? Renowned Dutch scholars elucidate the complicated question of the Dutch national identity by addressing the essential themes in the country's culture, history and society. Accessibly written and charmingly illustrated, this book is both a well-balanced textbook for courses in Dutch culture and a perfect gift for all short- and long-term visitors to the Netherlands. |
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"Judicious, useful, expert and concise - it would be hard to imagine a better guide to the cultural and historical reality of Dutch society today." Jonathan Israel, author of The Dutch Republic. |
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"Like the paintings of Holland's Golden Age, the Dutch themselves have many layers of meaning. Discovering the Dutch unravels the mysteries and contradictions of these people, to whom we owe the foundations of western principles of democracy and justice. Did you know that Hans Brinker was more American than Dutch? Want to understand how the Dutch Calvinists literally bet their houses on a tulip bulb? Read this book for these and other fascinating insights." Cynthia P. Schneider, former U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands. |
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"From Rembrandt to Anne frank, pancakes to coffee shops, canal houses to modern design, this volume explores myths and explodes misconceptions about the Netherlands and̀ Dutchness.' Whether you are planning to spend a week in Amsterdam or are writing a dissertation on Dutch culture and history, this is a very useful volume." Russell Shorto, author of The Island at the Center of the World --Book Jacket. |
| Subject |
Netherlands -- Civilization.
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| Added Author |
Besamusca, Emmeline.
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Verheul, J.
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| ISBN |
9789089641007 |
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9089641009 |
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