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However, his hands
were tied by the many privileges that the cities and
rural districts had acquired
in the time of the counts and dukes. These had to do
with autonomy and other regulations, as a result of
which the King was obligated to nominate the local
governors from a predetermined select group of
persons, recommended by the local prominent
families. Philip i intention was to end these
privileges. For his day and age, he was a modern
ruler who believed in a powerful central authority
that maintained the same procedures everywhere, and
who based his decisions on the ethical and
ideological principles of one sole religion, that of
the Roman Catholic Church. However, in the
Netherlands, there was much sympathy for
Protestantism, especially that of John Calvin.
To get something done in the old Republic required
the formation of coalitions with others, while also
making sure not to unneces sarily offend one’s
opponents. Central conditions to being suc cessful
were: respect for the other, a modest life style, a
willing ness to listen and the capacity to restrain
oneself. Calvinism, the source of this philosophy,
was embraced in a liberal way by a majority of the
elite, and was very influential.
The Netherlands is no longer a union of states, but
rather a demo cratic state of which the unity is
symbolized by the Queen, who is a descendant of
William of Orange. However, the mentality of the
Dutch has remained the same. Even though Dutch
society has become strongly secularized, it is still
greatly influenced by the Calvinistic philosophies.
Still evident today is the strong Prot estant work
ethic with overtones of moderation in all aspects of
life, decision-making by consensus, and the
stymieing of individ ualism. In a country where
ostentatiousness and boastfulness are akin to
sinfulness, and where orderliness and cleanliness
are next to godliness, showing off your wealth is
still considered equal to showing a lack of respect,
decisions are not taken without giving all those
involved a chance to voice their opinion, and in
most houses, the curtains are left open after dark,
signifying that there is nothing to hide, as
secretiveness is looked upon with suspicion. This is
further reflected in the way in which the country is
run, a system generally referred to as the ‘Poldermodel’.
West-Holland is a major region in the Netherlands and is
ideally positioned in the heart of Europe. With four major,
cities: Delft. The Hague, Leiden and Zoetermeer, it offers a
wide range of opportunities for businesses. The region has
an excellent transport infra-structure. Two major internal
airports, superior train connections and it’s location at
the crossroads of three major national highways, provide
maximum flexibility for travel within Europe and around the
world. |
