Netherlands Books

Not everyone views a big slab of stone as a proper memorial to their departed loved ones. "Bisj-poles: Sculptures from the Rain Forest" a look at the death rituals of the Asmat, an aboriginal culture living in New Guinea, with a focus on their grave markers - beautiful wood carvings called 'Bisj-poles'. Also touching on the Asmat people as a whole and not just the art itself but what it all means, "Bisj-poles: Sculptures from the Rain Forest" is a highly recommended pick for both anthropology and photography shelves everywhere.

Steve Zaloga is one of the foremost armor historians alive, as well as a superb model builder. This book, originally published by Squadron in the United States and Arms and Armour Press in Britain (and frequently reissued), is an excellent study of the AFV markings and camouflage practices of all the combatants in the first phase of World War Two. As such, it is one of the only sources in English for French, Polish and Belgian vehicle schemes, and it has valuable information for British, German and Russian vehicles as well. Features an excellent selection of b&w photos, as well as color drawings of all major vehicle types. An excellent resource for model builders and vehicle restorers.

Books, Friends, And Bibliophilia: Reminiscences Of An Antiquarian Bookseller is the unique and engaging autobiography of Anton Gerits, a Dutch antiquarian bookseller. Readers are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at Europe's antiquarian book trade from 1950 to the present. Featuring a treasury of anecdotes and replete with colorful characters, Gerits writes of his dealing with true legends of the book trade such as H.P. Kraus, Maurice L. Ettinghausen, and Menno Hertzberger. Gerits life story is also the story behind the building of significant private libraries, as well as the Special Collections departments of institutional and academic libraries of Western Europe, Japan, America, and even behind the Iron Curtain during the bleak days of the Cold War era. A past president of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers and the author of more than a dozen books, Anton Gerits' memoir is enthusiastically recommended reading, especially for book collectors, bibliophiles, librarians, academia, and members of the publishing community.

This book is an outstanding resource to peruse prior to visiting Bruges (The Venice of the North), with its canals and cobblestone square or while visiting. It is an easy read and its sections clearly detail places to visit, shop and stay.

Reading this book is like discovering the city yourself, and most of all it will take along those hidden corners that you would have never notices had Derek Blyth not pointed them out. I've lived in Brussels for 12 years, and this book has made me rediscover places that I have been walking past almost every day without realizing how interesting this city really is. Strongly recommended for anyone who wants to get to know this place a little better.

Once you start it is hard to put this book down. The story of Sister Margaret is a tale demonic possession, sex, and hate. At the side time the secret convent life of the 17th century is exposed. The book is an easy, entertaining read that also teaches of female religious life in early modern Europe. It is a refreshing way to approach history and the subject of women and convents.

Anyone interested in the rise of the Reformed Faith in the Netherlands, in general, and the Belgic Confession of Faith, in particular, must read Phyllis Mack Crew's work on preaching and iconoclasm in the mid-16th century in the Netherlands despite its high price tag.

This book is must reading because it gives an honest assesment of the role of religion, sociology, and economics during this period by stripping away the hagiography that surrounds our ideas of the Netherlands in this period. Far from being heroes of the faith a la Davidd v. Goliath, the Reformed ministers and lay preachers were ordinary men with ordinary struggles.

It also marshalls a litany of primary sources from men such as Guy de Bres, Franciscus Junius, as well as Roman Catholic opponents of the Reformed movement. Reading these men in their own words describe their work opens to us a whole new world in relation to confessional studies.

Another eye-opening aspect of the book is chapter 5, "The consciousness of the Reformed Clergy," in which Crew illustrates how the Reformed ministers allignedd themselves in their sufferings with the Oldd Testament prophets. This was a typical way the Reformed identified themselves as the people of God during this period, which gave them identity and purpose in the midst of harsh trials.

Particularly enlightening for purposes of understanding the Belgic Confession are Crews' pages dealing with the Reformed's understanding of calling to the ministry and ordination (Belgic Confession, art. 31) and the important historical point that there were a plethora of lay preachers who propagated a plethora of "Reformed churches" in these days. This fact helps us understand in a new light the language in article 29 about the many "sects" in the world that call themselves the church and the necessity of discerning according to the three marks of the church which churches were true and which false (Belgic Confession, art. 29).

Despite the steep price a purchase of this book will entail, it is worth every penny in primary research and historical awareness of the events surrounding the writing and adoption of the Belgic Confession of Faith in the Netherlands in the mid-16th century.

The great Medieval cathedrals provide one of the most stunning religious and architectural achievements of their times, and Cathedrals of Europe provides new photography of these existing structures, blending in text which focuses on many more obscure cathedrals as well as the most famous. This attention to a well-rounded focus makes for a more comprehensive coverage on the topic than most.

A well written, to the point, account of life in the Westerbork repatriation camp and the horrors of Belson concentration camp from a child's perspective.
Any story that deals with war, children and suffering is bound to be moving but throughout you find yourself filled with admiration for such remarkable young children and the bravery of their parents and those, like Sister Luba 'The Angel of Belson' who did their utmost to ensure the childrens' survival.

My 16 year old daughter recommended this to me and I recommend it strongly to anyone who wants to know more about life in the camps and how the people who were there got through it...or sadly in some cases, didn't.

Far from being depressing (although I'm not claiming to have remained dry eyed throughout) Hetty's account fills you with admiration for the inner strength of the children and pride for those who fought and liberated the camps.

Part of a series developed several decades ago by World Book for young people, these 80-page books have evolved into a rich storehouse of information for anyone of any age who enjoys learning the Christmas history, stories, regional Christmas songs, Christmas crafts, and holiday recipes of many nations.

One interesting aspect of "Christmas in The Netherlands" is the great amount of information about the arrival of Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) on a steamboat from Spain. There are many photos of the goodly man throughout the book. And unlike the U.S. where our Christmas season ends on Christmas Day, the Dutch observe the twelve days of Christmas with wonderful activities that carry into the new year. Dutch carols in the book include "Look, There Is the Steamer" and "Bright December Moon."

Dutch Christmas recipes include Apple Dumplings, Limburg Pie, and Apple-Raisin Donuts.

Collect the whole series of books for your home library, re-read them every December, and share them with friends and family.