Introduction: Batavian Phlegm? The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times

<p>In the autumn of 2011 the Royal Dutch Historical Society held its annual autumn conference. The theme was <em>Cool, Calm and Collected: The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times</em>. This introduction to the subsequent special issue of the <em>BMGN -Low Countries H...

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Main Authors: Herman Roodenburg, Catrien Santing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: openjournals.nl 2014-06-01
Series:BMGN: Low Countries Historical Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.bmgn-lchr.nl/articles/9538
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author Herman Roodenburg
Catrien Santing
author_facet Herman Roodenburg
Catrien Santing
author_sort Herman Roodenburg
collection DOAJ
description <p>In the autumn of 2011 the Royal Dutch Historical Society held its annual autumn conference. The theme was <em>Cool, Calm and Collected: The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times</em>. This introduction to the subsequent special issue of the <em>BMGN -Low Countries Historical Review</em> gives a brief historiographical overview of the history of emotions in general and its scant practice to date in the Northern Netherlands. Seven case-studies are introduced that show that the assumed phlegmatic character of the Dutch was a relatively late construction, coming into being in the course of the eighteenth century.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier descriptions of local and regional characteristics vary widely. Although most of the earlier authors mention the negative influence of the damp living conditions on the Dutch, just as frequently passionate behaviour, expressing vivacity, anger and heightened sentiments, was deemed typical of the freedom-loving barbarians from the north. The current national hero Desiderius Erasmus for example was known for his jealous, rash and overly emotional temper.</p><p> </p><p>This introduction is part of the special issue '<a href="/527/volume/129/issue/2/">Batavian Phlegm?</a>'.</p><p> </p><p><strong><em>Bataafs Flegma? De Nederlanders en hun emoties in de Premoderne Tijd</em></strong></p><p>Het najaarscongres van het KNHG had in 2011 als thema <em>Cool, Calm and Collected: The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times</em>. Deze introductie op het daaruit voortvloeiende themanummer van <em>BMGN - Low  Countries Historical Review</em> geeft zowel een kort historiografisch overzicht van de emotiegeschiedenis in het algemeen als van haar (bescheiden) beoefening tot nu toe in Nederland. Zeven casussen laten zien dat de  veronderstelde flegmatische volksaard van de Nederlander een late  constructie was die in loop van de achttiende eeuw tot stand kwam.</p><p> </p><p>Vroegere beschrijvingen van lokale of regionale kenmerken lopen nogal uiteen. Hoewel de meeste oudere auteurs de negatieve invloed van de vochtige leefomstandigheden op de Nederlanders wel onderkenden, beschouwden zij evenzeer onbesuisd gedrag dat vrolijkheid, boosheid en verhitte gevoelens uitdrukte, als typerend voor de vrijheidslievende barbaren uit het noorden. Desiderius Erasmus bijvoorbeeld, tegenwoordig onderdeel van de Canon van de Nederlandse geschiedenis, stond bekend om zijn jaloerse, onstuimige en emotionele karakter.</p><br /><p>Deze introductie maakt deel uit van het themanummer '<a href="/527/volume/129/issue/2/">Batavian Phlegm?</a>'.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-b05c05e2eafb4d9394f10db0ce25b1262022-12-21T17:23:22Zengopenjournals.nlBMGN: Low Countries Historical Review0165-05052211-28982014-06-01129271910.18352/bmgn-lchr.95389290Introduction: Batavian Phlegm? The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern TimesHerman Roodenburg0Catrien Santing1Royal Netherlands Historical SocietyRoyal Netherlands Historical Society<p>In the autumn of 2011 the Royal Dutch Historical Society held its annual autumn conference. The theme was <em>Cool, Calm and Collected: The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times</em>. This introduction to the subsequent special issue of the <em>BMGN -Low Countries Historical Review</em> gives a brief historiographical overview of the history of emotions in general and its scant practice to date in the Northern Netherlands. Seven case-studies are introduced that show that the assumed phlegmatic character of the Dutch was a relatively late construction, coming into being in the course of the eighteenth century.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier descriptions of local and regional characteristics vary widely. Although most of the earlier authors mention the negative influence of the damp living conditions on the Dutch, just as frequently passionate behaviour, expressing vivacity, anger and heightened sentiments, was deemed typical of the freedom-loving barbarians from the north. The current national hero Desiderius Erasmus for example was known for his jealous, rash and overly emotional temper.</p><p> </p><p>This introduction is part of the special issue '<a href="/527/volume/129/issue/2/">Batavian Phlegm?</a>'.</p><p> </p><p><strong><em>Bataafs Flegma? De Nederlanders en hun emoties in de Premoderne Tijd</em></strong></p><p>Het najaarscongres van het KNHG had in 2011 als thema <em>Cool, Calm and Collected: The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times</em>. Deze introductie op het daaruit voortvloeiende themanummer van <em>BMGN - Low  Countries Historical Review</em> geeft zowel een kort historiografisch overzicht van de emotiegeschiedenis in het algemeen als van haar (bescheiden) beoefening tot nu toe in Nederland. Zeven casussen laten zien dat de  veronderstelde flegmatische volksaard van de Nederlander een late  constructie was die in loop van de achttiende eeuw tot stand kwam.</p><p> </p><p>Vroegere beschrijvingen van lokale of regionale kenmerken lopen nogal uiteen. Hoewel de meeste oudere auteurs de negatieve invloed van de vochtige leefomstandigheden op de Nederlanders wel onderkenden, beschouwden zij evenzeer onbesuisd gedrag dat vrolijkheid, boosheid en verhitte gevoelens uitdrukte, als typerend voor de vrijheidslievende barbaren uit het noorden. Desiderius Erasmus bijvoorbeeld, tegenwoordig onderdeel van de Canon van de Nederlandse geschiedenis, stond bekend om zijn jaloerse, onstuimige en emotionele karakter.</p><br /><p>Deze introductie maakt deel uit van het themanummer '<a href="/527/volume/129/issue/2/">Batavian Phlegm?</a>'.</p>https://www.bmgn-lchr.nl/articles/9538Low Countrieshistory of emotions
spellingShingle Herman Roodenburg
Catrien Santing
Introduction: Batavian Phlegm? The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times
BMGN: Low Countries Historical Review
Low Countries
history of emotions
title Introduction: Batavian Phlegm? The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times
title_full Introduction: Batavian Phlegm? The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times
title_fullStr Introduction: Batavian Phlegm? The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times
title_full_unstemmed Introduction: Batavian Phlegm? The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times
title_short Introduction: Batavian Phlegm? The Dutch and their Emotions in Pre-Modern Times
title_sort introduction batavian phlegm the dutch and their emotions in pre modern times
topic Low Countries
history of emotions
url https://www.bmgn-lchr.nl/articles/9538
work_keys_str_mv AT hermanroodenburg introductionbatavianphlegmthedutchandtheiremotionsinpremoderntimes
AT catriensanting introductionbatavianphlegmthedutchandtheiremotionsinpremoderntimes