Dutch-German Relations from the Dutch perspective
Part II

A Positive Look At Germany

In the last issue of the One Europe Magazine Jeroen Hoogerwerf described some negative elements in the Dutch attitude towards Germany.
By looking at additional facts and the latest developments the author emphasizes the positive look at the teutonic neighbour.

Maarten Rigter, Utrecht

The period between 1550 and 1650 is called "the golden age" in the Netherlands. In these days the country was a true worldpower: trade, industry and culture flourished. During the next centuries Dutch power declined more and more, Amsterdam lost its place as the leading European market and colonies became independent.

But some traces of this past still remain in the Netherlands. One of the examples is a vivid interest in international affairs, and a tendency to influence these affairs -disregarding the real power of the Netherlands at the moment. Also a more or less superior moralistic behaviour seems to date from this period.

Niederdeutsche

The relations with Germany were good in the past. Before 1871 Germany was not more than a scattered pattern of little states. This came to an end in 1871 when the German Emperor State was founded. Germany became "big brother" and from then on the Dutch were often considered as "Niederdeutsche" (i.e. Germans of the low lands). The German chancellor Bismarck declared in the German parliament: "The Dutch will voluntarily join our State". At the same time the Dutch themselves kept a positive outlook towards Germany. Among the reasons was the First World War which was fought outside the borders of the Netherlands.

The brutal invasion in 1940 by the Germans meant a shock. Many Dutchmen were killed in the Second World War. For instance in the hungerwinter of 1944 thousands of them starved. This meant at the same time the end of the positive view the Dutch had of Germany. From then on the relations between the two countries became more strained.

Some recent examples include:

* after the German reunification in 1989 a lot of Dutchmen were afraid of the great State and expressed this opinion.
* the row between Dutch prime-minister Lubbers and German chancellor Kohl about the chairmanship of the European Commission, which ended by the defeat of Lubbers.
* German magazine "Der Spiegel" published a very negative article about the Netherlands.
* the Clingendael report (1993) which confronted the Germans with a very negative view of the Dutch youth towards Germany. This last report brought the final turn. At last, German and Dutch politicians woke up. The new Dutch government in The Hague even made the improvement of the Dutch-German relations a spearpoint of their policy.

Don't Be So Serious

Some prejudices about the two countries are right. For instance most Germans should be a little less serious and Dutchmen less moralistic. But most of the prejudices aren't right, such as the idea that only the Dutch are hostile towards Germans. Englishmen are often much more hostile. It is natural that the Dutch point at the differences between Holland and Germany. Other countries who have a big brother show the same behaviour, such as Portugal with Spain and Canada with the United States.

On the other hand can't be denied that the two countries are closely linked. Both share the same pro-European spirit and the same attitude towards the protection of the environment. Germany is the most important trading partner for the Netherlands and, however not many people know that, Holland is the second important trading partner for Germany.

Royal Efforts

From 1994 on, important initiatives have been taken by both governments to improve the bilateral relations. The Dutch government spends half a million Guilders every year to organize a Dutch-German conference. Leading people from industry, science and culture discuss there the relationship between the countries and try to improve it.

The exchange of scholars, traineeships in companies and government institutions, language teaching and cultural exchanges are stimulated and subsidized by the Dutch Ministry of Education. Furthermore initiatives have been taken to celebrate the 8th of May together. The defeat of Nazi-Germany meant the liberation of Germany and the Netherlands and cleared the way for the founding of the new democratic German republic.

On May 15, 1995 the so-called " House of the Netherlands" was opened in Munster, Germany. The aim of the house is to spread information about the Netherlands. The Dutch crownprince Willem Alexander said in his speech that he wanted to do as much as possible to improve the Dutch-German relations.

Barbarian Germans

The most important event however was the visit of German chancellor Kohl on May 23rd to commemorate the devasting bombing of Rotterdam. Kohl expressed his regrets about what happened. His most impressive words were: "In May 1940 Rotterdam became the victim of a barbarian destruction by German bombers. The occupation of the Netherlands was a crime. The whole war, which was provoked by Hitler, was a crime. But we should not stay prisoners of the past, because then the past would triumph in the end. We must direct our acting and thinking towards the future of a united and peaceful Europe".

This speech made a very great impression in Holland. It changed the attitude of a lot of Dutchmen. In a new inquiry under Dutch youth in June 1995 74,2% of them considered the Germans as friendly people.

Let's hope that this positive change will continue. The Dutch and Germans have no choice. They have to work together. Let's do it in a friendly and positive way. Using the words of Kohl: "Don't be a prisoner of the past, work together for the future of a united and peaceful Europe!"

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