Description
Book SynopsisWere the Dutch-Africans in southern Africa a brother nation to the Dutch or did they simply represent a lost colony? Connecting primary sources in Dutch and Afrikaans, this work tells the story of the Dutch stamverwantschap (kinship) movement between 1847 and 1900. The white Dutch-Africans were imagined to be the bridgehead to a broader Dutch identity – a ‘second Netherlands’ in the south. This study explores how the 19th century Dutch identified with and idealised a pastoral community operating within a racially segregated society on the edge of European civilisation. When the stamverwantschap dream collided with British military and economic power, the belief that race, language and religion could sustain a broader Dutch identity proved to be an illusion.
Table of ContentsGeneral Series Editor’s Preface Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations, Notes on Currency Values and Translation Relevant Dates 1 Brother Nation or Lost Colony – Dutchness Re-imagined Introduction Theoretical Context Kinship Nation and Identity Imperialism Nationalism Cultural Nationalism Colony Colonial Nationalism Language Language, Literature and National Identity The View from Europe Imperialism and Colonialism in the Southern African Bridgeheads 2 Dutch Writing about the Dutch Role in Southern Africa Southern Africa in General Dutch Historiography Provincialism or Comparativism Dutch Imperialism in the Late Nineteenth Century? Re-thinking the Relationship between the Dutch and Their Former Colonies Religion and National Identity Kinship with the Dutch-Africans – Myth or Reality? Conclusion 3 The Dutch Look Back: The Birth of the Kinship Movement Introduction The Netherlands between 1795 and 1875 – a Period of Upheaval Looking Back to Past Glory Dutch National Identity The Liberal Decades A Colony Lost – the View from Europe Two groups of Dutch-Africans Stamverwantschap—the Early Years—1840 to 1875 Ulrich Gerhard Lauts Lauts Takes the Initiative Lauts Lobbies the Dutch Parliament Lauts’ Legacy The Dutch Government Mid-1850s – Tentative Engagement Jacobus Stuart Child Migration 1855–1870 The links sustained by education Hendrik Hamelberg – the Importance of Personal Experience Conclusion 4 ‘There Exists a Second Netherlands’ Introduction The Role of the Dutch Protestant Churches among the Dutch-Africans Dutch Newspapers and Burgers Burgers, the Man and His Vision Burgers’ Vision Reinforced by a Treaty and by Hamelberg The Unmaking of Burgers A Dopper Pastor Pours Cold Water on Enthusiasm Dutch-Africans Attacked from ‘the left’ Metropoles Compared The imperious British Attitude Towards the Dutch Regarding Southern Africa The Imbalance in Shipping and Communications Stamverwantschap Faces the Assertion of British power Conclusion 5 Dutch Reaction to the Annexation of the Transvaal Introduction A measured Initial Response to the Annexation Pleasure over Burgers’ Demise Sand River Convention – Sovereignty and Slavery Slavery in the Transvaal Republic– the Evidence The Dutch Respond to British Claims Dutch Supporters Characterise the Allegations as Propaganda Neo-Calvinist Development of the Kinship Ideology Dutch Reactions Harden and Protest Begins Dutch-Africans don’t Deserve Our Support – Another Liberal View The Dutch Government Responds – the Neutrality Policy The Dutch ‘Official Mind’ Remains Neutral Conclusion 6 Transvaal Rebellion Succeeds: Greater Influence for Stamverwantschap Introduction The Vision Survives – Excitement Builds New Symbols of Dutchness Harting’s Seminal Publication Liberal Appeals to Reason and Fairness A Prominent Liberal Looks Back in Anger Neutrality Trumps Stamverwantschap Again in Parliament Attacking Neutrality in the Lower House A New Figure in the Stamverwantschap Movement Women and the Stamverwantschap Movement The Creation of the Nederlandsche Zuid-Afrikaansche Vereeniging Harting’s Vision Conclusion 7 Rebuilding the Broken Link – the Jonkman Report Introduction Institutionalised Stamverwantschap – Initial Difficulties The Liberals Require Direct Contact The Jonkman Mission – A Divide Exposed The Jonkman Visit Nostalgia Dutch Migration Needed Connecting with Colonial Society In the Oranje Vrijstaat In Kruger’s Republic Colonial Nationalism Identified Jonkman’s Assessment of S. J. du Toit Jonkman’s Published Conclusions Lessons from the Jonkman Report Conclusion 8 President Kruger visits: Dutch Capital Markets Fail Him Introduction Dutch National Press and English Anti-Boer Propaganda Divisions in the Dutch Welcoming Party Receptions for the Deputation Controversy at Plancius – Kuyper’s Speech A purpose and Identity for Calvinist Christians in Africa A Liberal Response A Declining Role for Kuyper Inter-governmental Links with the Dutch-Africans Not Yet Established Sobering Impact of Jorissen’s Dismissal Jorissen’s Bold Plan Investing in the Stamverwanten – a Bad Start by the Koch Brothers Testing the Dutch Capital Markets Background to Dutch Capital Raising Harting Appeals for Support for the Capital Raising Investors’ Questions – Meeting at the Odeon Sovereign Risk? Sovereign Risk Fears Stronger than Kinship 1884 – a Reality Check for the Stamverwantschap Movement Beyond 1884 – NZASM Funds, Builds and Operates the ZAR Railways Conclusion 9 Emigration to Southern Africa – Touchstone for Kinship? Introduction Part 1: Nineteenth-Century Dutch Emigration in a Northern European Context Part 2: How the Dutch Failed Their Stamverwanten Conclusion 10 Educating the Dutch-Africans: A Civilising Mission, or Cultural Imperialism? Introduction Stamverwantschap as a Vehicle for Cultural Betterment Introducing Three Missionaries for Dutch Culture Conclusion 11 Stamverwantschap Imagined through Language and Literature Introduction Language as the Conduit for Expansion of National Identity ‘A Message to the Dutch People’ Mixed Messages from the Stamverwanten What Dutch Adults Were Reading Cor Pama Collection Adult Fiction and Poetry Bitterness and Accusations Stories for Children Dutch Caricatures and Cartoons Romance and Heroism Poetry, Literary Criticism and the Boer as Symbol Myth or an Artistic Reaction to Reality? Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Index
