IISH

Subcollections

History of the Netherlands

With its 6,500 works, History of the Netherlands is the largest collection in the Academy Library. Despite the fact that is not a representative collection, it contains an impressive number of works of special interest. In particular, the part dealing with 1555-1795 contains many pamphlets and placards.

The 'pamphlets' section contains a large number of works about the Eighty Years' War. A considerable number of these works relate to religion, especially the dispute between Gomarius and Armenius. Other works relate to the sea wars with Great Britain.

Especially from the beginning of the eighteenth century, separate issues of newspapers begin to become a very important part of the collection: De Post van den Neder-Rhijn (E 3622), several mostly anti-Orange newspapers (23 ex.; E 3846), De Militaire Post (1786; E 3846), De vriend van 't Vaderland (1787; E 3847), De Haagsche Correspondent (1786-1787; E 3848), De Nederlandsche Spectateur met de Bril (1796-1787; E 3891), and De Vraagal (1791-1797; E 3975).

Works with the call numbers E 3512, 3538-3548, 3584-3603 relate to Prince Willem Karel Hendrik Friso (1711-1751), the later Viceroy Willem IV: his marriage, his becoming viceroy, the birth of children, his death, and the death of his wife, Princess Anna of Hannover (1709-1759).

Works with the call numbers E 4090, 4092, 4110, 4166, and 4167 are original assessment notices of Representanten van het Volk (Representatives of the People), Comité Revolutionair (Revolutionary Committee), etc.

The part called 'history and description of the foreign possessions' (E 4780-4984) primarily relates to the activities of the Dutch East India Company and the Dutch West India Company. Highlights of this collection are mentioned in the exhibition catalogue Reistogten om den Aardkloot (Amsterdam: Bibliotheek KNAW, 1995). The following overview is restricted to works which did not constitute part of this exhibition.

The part called 'biographies' (E 5208-5428) contains biographies of monarchs, politicians, military men, scientists, and artists, among which are works of special interest.

Special works in this part of the collection:

The original call numbers have been added where applicable.

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