#dutchrevolt — Public Fediverse posts

I'm not a nationalist in any way, but I do feel connected to this bit of history. It's had a huge impact on who I am today.

It is for me what the Declaration of Independence must be for Americans: the official, formal birth of your nation. I don't feel proud per se, as all of the this happened long before I was born and could have contributed anything.

But I do feel the historic connection between the people and events back then, and what our country is today.

I firmly believe that the Netherlands is one of the best places on earth to live today. Freedom, wealth, security, rights, everything you could wish for. Part of that is rooted in that document from so long ago. I like to remember that 😉

I also want to remember that a substantial part of our current economic status was ill-gotten. The people of those days that I feel connected to, are also some of the people who committed the most horrible crimes. At least by modern opinion...

We must not forget either. Celebrate what went well, commemorate what went wrong, and remember.

Knowing the past helps you understand the present.

#history #Netherlands #secession #Spain #PlakkaatVanVerlatinghe #ActOfAbjuration #DutchRevolt

Forgive me this bit of nationalism, chauvinism or misplaced pride 😄

The Act of Abjuration is considered a foundational document of modern democracy because it established the radical concept that a sovereign's legitimacy depends on the welfare of their subjects.

These subjects, however, didn't include the original or forcefully imported inhabitants of "our" colonies, or the "trade goods" we transported to, mostly, America 😳

#history #Netherlands #secession #Spain #PlakkaatVanVerlatinghe #ActOfAbjuration #DutchRevolt