Five Brothers and a War

History—1500 to 1600 AD

Due to Filips Willem’s being held captive in Spain, his younger half-brother (by Willem’s second wife) Maurits van Nassau was appointed Stadhouder (“Governor”) of Holland. The Dutch are, if not in fact, certainly in perception, a nation of iconoclasts. Iconoclasm occurs on two levels: beliefs and religious images (icons). The Dutch are world-class iconoclasts on both levels. It is simple to see in the decoration of Dutch churches, but it is straightforward to note in societal norms in virtually every aspect of life. This is largely what contributes to the Dutch propensity for tolerance and widespread tolerance of what other nations find to be distasteful or even abhorrent. Examples include the early acceptance of hashish use and sale, legalized prostitution, and euthanasia. Tolerance is expected, and offensiveness is simply unavoidable collateral damage.

holland

Prins Filips Willem

Five Brothers and a War

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