The miracle of the hbs is about the early history of the hogere burgerschool (Higher Civic School) or HBS, a now-defunct Dutch secondary school type that achieved great fame. The research focuses... Show moreThe miracle of the hbs is about the early history of the hogere burgerschool (Higher Civic School) or HBS, a now-defunct Dutch secondary school type that achieved great fame. The research focuses on the establishment and functioning of the HBS in twelve smaller municipalities with populations of less than 10,000 people in the outer provinces of the Netherlands. Initially, the HBS was not really a success – its profile was unclear, the results of its few students were disappointing, and the cost for national and local government high. Still, those first few schools survived. The aim of the study is to find explanations for this paradox.The research shows that the miracle of the HBS is due to a combination of factors: well-timed legislation; a well-drafted law; two strong inducements in the legislation, namely money and curricular freedom; great enthusiasm in the region, particularly outside the traditional centre of the country; a degree of invulnerability to criticism from the opposition; and, above all, the self-confident actions of erudite and well-paid teachers committed to the new school and prepared to devote themselves fully to designing and improving its curriculum without making any concessions to the quality of the education. Show less
This dissertation examines the memory cultures of Netherlandish migrants who left their homes during the Dutch Revolt (ca. 1568-1648) and the religious persecutions preceding it. It shows how... Show moreThis dissertation examines the memory cultures of Netherlandish migrants who left their homes during the Dutch Revolt (ca. 1568-1648) and the religious persecutions preceding it. It shows how narratives of exile and victimhood were transmitted between generations and cultivated in various social and religious settings until the eighteenth century. The consciousness of a shared past connected Netherlandish diaspora groups all over Europe and at the same time provided them with models of identification with their various local host societies. Integration into the various host societies in Germany, England and the Dutch Republic did not inhibit the commemoration of the refugee past, but led to an incorporation of exile narrative into new memory canons. New generations could often benefit from identifying with the fate of persecuted ancestors, especially in pietist and puritan circles in Germany and England. Having suffered for one’s faith served as a proof of religious steadfastness and the identification with the persecuted ‘small flock of true Christians’ appealed to many pietists without a migrant background. Exile narratives were increasingly shared by migrants and non-migrants and allowed individuals to participate in cultures of religious exclusivity Show less
Het idee dat oorlogvoering niet alleen een praktisch vak is, maar ook een goede theoretische onderbouwing nodig heeft, ontstond al aan het eind van de vijftiende eeuw. Daarbij speelde de... Show moreHet idee dat oorlogvoering niet alleen een praktisch vak is, maar ook een goede theoretische onderbouwing nodig heeft, ontstond al aan het eind van de vijftiende eeuw. Daarbij speelde de boekdrukkunst als nieuw communicatiemiddel een cruciale rol, want juist via het gedrukte woord konden kennis en informatie op krijgskundig gebied gemakkelijk en breed worden verspreid. Aan dit aspect is tot nu toe nauwelijks aandacht besteed en er bestaat van geen enkel land een algemene studie over militaire boekcultuur. Gewapend met kennis presenteert een eerste overzicht van de rijke Nederlandse militaire boekcultuur: van de eerste militaire vakbibliotheek, in 1600 ontstaan aan de Leidse universiteit, tot de eerste druk van het bekende Handboek voor de soldaat uit 1933. De eerste werken werden gedrukt door Christoffel Plantijn in Antwerpen, maar al snel werden Den Haag en Amsterdam het centrum van de Nederlandse militaire publicistiek. Tot in de achttiende eeuw was de Nederlandse Republiek zelfs internationaal een belangrijke producent van militaire literatuur. De auteur had voor zijn onderzoek toegang tot het omvangrijke en unieke historisch boekbezit aanwezig in het cultureel erfgoed van Defensie. Gewapend met kennis bevat een schat aan materiaal voor onderzoekers, geïnteresseerden en erfgoedinstellingen, en geeft de militair een ander gezicht. Show less
A description of 17th century anatomical activity at the major Dutch university in a cultural context This study offers a history of the Leiden anatomical theatre in the first century of its... Show moreA description of 17th century anatomical activity at the major Dutch university in a cultural context This study offers a history of the Leiden anatomical theatre in the first century of its existence; who were the scientists working there in the 17th century, the Dutch Golden Age. What was the motivation of these scholars for studying and demonstrating the human body? Was it purely medical or were their other - more philosophical - questions at stake? Besides a cultural historical account of the anatomical theatre the dissertation also offers the histories of other centres of anatomical activity in 17th century Leiden: the Collegium Medico Practicum at the Caecilia Hospital, and Leiden's surgeons guild. Show less
Throughout the nineteenth century many genre and history painters from Central-Europe, as elsewhere, chose to depict scenes from everyday life in the past. At the time writers of historiographic... Show moreThroughout the nineteenth century many genre and history painters from Central-Europe, as elsewhere, chose to depict scenes from everyday life in the past. At the time writers of historiographic and literary texts, reviews of books and works of art often expressed a longing to be able to ´see´ such personal life in history, and to sympathize with its positive moments. Scenes of historical genre were particularly apt to meet those wishes. The preference for eras and locations underwent changes during the course of that century, and the same goes for the situations and activities that ´historical´ people were shown involved in. The variance in historical ideals in Germany, Austria and Poland led to a wide variety of scenes within Central-European historical genre, whilst producing, at the same time, sometimes surprising similarities. Object of this study has been the cultural-historical context of some of the most frequently painted themes and types of historical genre, as well as contemporary comments, in order to find out what meaning these images held for the nineteenth-century beholder. Show less
