Page 57 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

THE HIST OR Y OF THE NE THERLANDS  55

The Enlightenment Where to See
The Enlightenment, or the “Age of Reason”, has the Netherlands’
its roots in the 16th century. In Holland, this Golden Age
emerged in the work of the natural scientists
Swammerdam and Van Leeuwenhoek, and the Good examples of
thinker Spinoza. The jurist Hugo de Groot was the 17th-century architecture
first to formulate a rational – as opposed to a are the Trippenhuis in
theological – basis for what he called “natural law”, Amsterdam (see p80), the
that is, a universal law applicable to all humans Lakenhal in Leiden (see
Antonie van everywhere, which was one of the great themes p220) and the Mauritshuis
Leeuwenhoek tackled by thinkers of the Enlightenment. in The Hague (see pp226–7).
Vlissingen has the Arsenaal
(see p255); Haarlem, the Grote
Markt (see p186). Outstanding
Wan-Li China Porcelain, also known merchant houses can be seen
as egg-shell porcelain, served as a in the major trading towns of
model for blue Delft pottery. the time, such as Delft (see
pp230–33) and Utrecht (for
Michiel de Ruyter example, the Oudegracht,
The admiral of the see p204).
Dutch fleet during
the Second and
Third English-
Dutch Naval
Wars was a
great tactician
held in high
esteem by
his sailors. His
nickname “Bestevaer”
meant “Grandfather”.
The Muider Circle
The artists and scholars who met at the
Interior of a home of the poet PC Hooft at Muiderslot
Patrician Home Castle are now known as the members of
This painting by Pieter the “Muiderkring” (Muider Circle).
de Hooch, Portrait of a
Family Making Music Prince of Poets
(1663), shows the wealth Joost van den Vondel
of a patrician residence in (1587–1679), depicted
the second half of the 17th here by HG Pot as a
century. Around 1660, shepherd, is widely
portrait painting shifted regarded as the
in style from sobriety to greatest Dutch
opulence, a reflection poet and
of the flourishing economy. playwright
of the 17th
century.
17th-Century Microscope
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek made
numerous important discoveries
with his home-made microscope.

1642 Rembrandt 1650–1672 First stadholder-free 1698 Tsar Peter
completes The period starts when the states fail the Great visits
Night Watch to name a successor after the Amsterdam
death of William II 1672–1702 Rule of and Zaandam
stadholder William III
1625 1640 1655 1670 1685 1700
1665–1667 The Second English-
1625 Frederick-Henry 1648 The Peace of Dutch Naval War. Michiel
becomes stadholder of Münster marks the end Adriaansz. de Ruyter scores 1689 William III becomes
Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, of the 80 Years War legendary victories (Four Days’ king of England
Gelderland and Overijssel Battle, The Battle of Chatham)

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