Three years after the publication of Gids voor de geschiedenis van de
jezuïeten in Nederland 1850-2000 (A Guide to the History of the Jesuits in
the Netherlands 1850-2000 a new guide (in Dutch and English) appears, covering
the earlier period from 1540 to 1850. With early beginnings more than 30 years
ago, the project now reaches completion. The new guide has the same set up as
the previous one. Both guides provide abundant information for anyone wanting to
do research into the history of the Jesuits in the Netherlands from 1540 to
2005.
The most important part of this guide is the bibliography (3333 numbers; in the
other guide 1268 numbers), which forms the key to all scientific research. The
included titles have been described as much as possible by checking the original
copies of the books and journals. But corrections and additions will undoubtedly
be necessary, considering the statement of the American bibliographer Roger
Pattrell Bristol (1903-1974): “I suppose I have learned to trust no
bibliographer over 30, not even the most eminent, and especially not myself.”
The material included in this guide covers the period beginning with the
establishment of the Jesuit order in 1540. Below the great rivers in the
Netherlands, the Jesuits had colleges in Maastricht, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Roermond
and Breda for various periods of time. In the rest of the country, after the
foundation of the ‘Hollandse Zending’ (Dutch Mission) they worked mainly from
‘stations’, mission posts where they were stationed alone or with one or a few
others. After the suppression of the order by pope Clement XIV in 1773 they
remained as ex-Jesuits at their post in Amsterdam, Culemborg and Nijmegen. After
the restoration of the order in 1814 the Jesuits could develop themselves with
new zest. Outside of the Netherlands numerous Dutch Jesuits were also active,
both in Europe and further abroad.
Belonging to this history of more than 300 years are Jesuits such as Jasper
Berse, Peter Canisius, Arnold Damen, Adrianus van Gestel, Godfried Henskens,
Willem Hermans, Lodewijk Makeblijde, Adriaen Poirters, Jan-Philip Roothaan,
Heribert Rosweyde, François de Rougemont and Matthias Wolff. One or more streets
in the Netherlands are named after half of them.
Special sections have been devoted to the following: placards against the
Jesuits, the Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel and the Jesuits, the sojourn of the
Portugese Jesuit António Vieira in Holland, and Imago primi saeculi, the
spectacular memorial book that appeared for the hundredth anniversary of the
order in 1640.
This guide offers diverse material for research on the history of the Jesuits in
the Netherlands during the period 1540-1850: calendar of events, towns with
residences, government of the order, glossary of Jesuit terms, sources for the
study of history and culture and an extremely extensive bibliography.
Corrections and additions to the guide of 1850-2000 have also been included. An
index on authors completes the bibliography.