Founding large charities and community building in the Dutch Republic, c. 1600-1800

In this contribution, we study the founding of large charities for the elderly during the Dutch Republic, demonstrating their number and nature, with an emphasis on how almshouses for the elderly were intricately bound up with the concern to preserve honour. Personal honour, being tied to community...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Scandinavian economic history review 2014-01, Vol.62 (1), p.17-34
Main Authors: Looijesteijn, Henk, van Leeuwen, Marco H.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
almshouses
care for the elderly
centrality of honour
Charitable foundations
Charities
Charity
Citizens
community building
Corporatism
Elder care
eldreomsorg
fattighus
Historical analysis
Housing
Netherlands
Religion & psychology
Religious communities
Sociology
Studies
the Dutch Republic
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Summary:In this contribution, we study the founding of large charities for the elderly during the Dutch Republic, demonstrating their number and nature, with an emphasis on how almshouses for the elderly were intricately bound up with the concern to preserve honour. Personal honour, being tied to community honour, formed a vital part of the processes of patronage and corporatism that defined early modern Dutch society. Through almshouse foundations the religious and civic communities to which patrons and clients belonged were strengthened. Within the fragmented religious landscape of the Dutch Republic these charities played an important role in strengthening both mainstream and dissenter communities, while providing a decent old age to Dutch citizens.
ISSN:0358-5522
1750-2837
DOI:10.1080/03585522.2013.872176