A Concise History of the Netherlands

This book offers a comprehensive yet compact history of this surprisingly little-known but fascinating country, from pre-history to the present.

James C. Kennedy (Author)

9780521875882, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 July 2017

502 pages, 50 b/w illus. 17 maps
22.2 x 14.2 x 2.7 cm, 0.79 kg

'Just like his rendition of the historiographical state of the art in the rest of the book, I find Kennedy's analysis of current political events (in which the work of several of his own students resonates) entirely recognizable and generally convincing. A Concise History of the Netherlands is therefore recommended for any reader, Dutch or non-Dutch, with an interest in the history of the Netherlands but little time to read.' Joris Oddens, European History Quarterly

The Netherlands is known among foreigners today for its cheese and its windmills, its Golden Age paintings and its experimentation in social policies such as cannabis and euthanasia. Yet the historical background for any of these quintessentially Dutch achievements is often unfamiliar to outsiders. This Concise History offers an overview of this surprisingly little-known but fascinating country. Beginning with the first humanoid settlers, the book follows the most important contours of Dutch history, from Roman times through to the Habsburgs, the Dutch Republic and the Golden Age. The author, a modernist, pays particularly close attention to recent developments, including the signature features of contemporary Dutch society. In addition to being a political history, this overview also gives systematic attention to social and economic developments, as well as in religion, the arts and the Dutch struggle against the water. The Dutch Caribbean is also included in the narrative.

Introduction
1. From the margins to the mainstream: Dutch history to 1384
2. Rise of the Northern Netherlands, 1384–1588
3. A young republic's golden age, 1588–1672
4. Diminishing returns and new hopes, 1672–1795
5. Building a nation-state, 1795–1870
6. Progress and crisis, 1870–1949
7. A progressive beacon to the world, 1949–2016
Epilogue.

Subject Areas: Politics & government [JP], European history [HBJD]