The Hague as the disputed showcase of the Dutch State and Dutch national identity 1814–1917

Abstract

The central question of this article is What does the urban and architectural design of The Hague tell us about the Dutch political and administrative ambitions in representing the state and national identity from 1814–1917? In this period many European capital cities grew fast, governmentas acquired new ambitions and new powers, and nationalism spread. Many governments developed impressive national building activities. In The Netherlands there was hardly any urge to emphasize the state power by transforming the urban landscape even in its governmental center The Hague. One reason is that the dominant liberal politics refrained from social and economic interventions. A second reason is that the various population groups had difficulty to agree on one national building style. Accompanied by a strong ideological discussion, the Dutch polity finally succeeded in producing a governmental architecture (from ca. 1880–1815) in the so-called Dutch Renaissance style. Although the different population groups (orthodox Protestants, Liberals, Catholics) could, each for their own reasons, accept this national style, its characteristics (picturesque, simple and small) lent itself poorly to public governmental commissions on a grand scale.