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The Netherlands – A Tradition of Innovation
The Netherlands is a nation internationally recognized for a history
of innovation that has led to break-through developments in architectural
planning and engineering, significant contributions in all areas
of the visual and performing arts, and a progressive social and
cultural policy. The Dutch are major world players in the arts,
sciences, and economics.
One of the world’s most densely populated countries—16
million Dutch occupy just over 16,000 square miles—the nation
has conquered overcrowding through thoughtful urban planning and
architecture. A low-lying country at the convergence of three
major rivers, The Netherlands is prone to flooding. Over centuries,
the Dutch have mastered hydraulic engineering and bridge building
in order to control the surrounding water and maintain the integrity
of the land. The many bridges, dykes, windmills and pumping stations
that mark its landscape illustrate the nation’s long struggle
against water, the crowning achievement of which is the Delta
Project, a chain of dams constructed between 1953 and 1997. Today,
Dutch engineers and water management experts continue to offer
advice and assistance to the reconstruction efforts following
Hurricane Katrina.
This tradition of innovation of The Netherlands however is not
limited to technical advancements. The Dutch spirit of experimentation
has contributed to a rich cultural history that encompasses all
areas of the arts. The 17th century, a time of great prosperity
for the republic, is known as the “Dutch Golden Age.”
Some of the most well recognized Dutch visual artists—including
painters Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Jan Steen and Frans
Hals—lived and worked during this time. Their innovative
approach to realist painting set a standard for their contemporaries
and many generations to follow. The 19th and 20th century brought
works by painters Vincent van Gogh, Piet Mondrian, and Willem
de Kooning, again, all of these innovators amongst their peers
due to their unique combination of craftsmanship and originality.
The Dutch are heralded for their contributions to the world of
design. The simplicity and economy of design that characterized
the Dutch approach is illustrated in the works of groups such
as the De Stijl artists and designers in the 1920s. In recent
years, the Droog design collective, currently on exhibit in New
York at the Museum of Arts and Design, added the innovative use
of materials, humor and startling originality to De Stijl’s
precepts.
The integrity of The Netherlands’ architectural history
is exemplified by the nation’s commitment to its historic
buildings—the government helps to maintain 50,000 buildings
that are currently listed as protected monuments. The Dutch are
also known for a leading and exploring role in the development
of modern architecture, most recently celebrated in the work of
Rem Koolhaas, whose latest work in China is currently on exhibit
at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Musically, The Netherlands again has a great tradition of innovation—many
well known ensembles like Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Rotterdam
Philharmonic, the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, the Amsterdam
Baroque Orchestra, and the Schˆnberg Ensemble excel in their
representation of classical music. In the field of contemporary
music, composer Louis Andriessen is internationally recognized
as one of its foremost pioneers. In 2005, Lincoln Center programmed
an entire Louis Andriessen festival to celebrate his music. Dutch
opera is also known for it innovative approach to the medium,
as are its practitioners of early music, improvised jazz, and
many forms of popular music.
The Dutch are also leaders in the fields of contemporary dance
with major companies like the Netherlands Dance Theatre enjoying
international recognition, along with an increasing number of
smaller, avant-garde companies, who have enjoyed a recent upsurge
in attention in the United States. Dutch theatre, with its daring
staging and ensemble-driven production methods, is garnering increasing
attention in the U.S, with several Dutch productions, Dutch-American
co-productions and guest directorships on the horizon. Children’s
theater and children’s literature from The Netherlands are
known and praised for their combination of charm, technical expertise
and willingness to tackle children’s real-life situations.
Where to stay
To check where you would like to stay, whether it is in Amsterdam
or Groningen or any city throughout The Netherlands, visit www.hotel.nl
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