This was the beginning of the rollout of more legislation that improved living and working conditions.
The HDC | Protestant Heritage Collection of the University Library's Special Collections holds many records and objects associated with the development of social legislation in the Netherlands. The exhibition "Op halve kracht vooruit" shows this diversity of objects in different themes and gives an overview of what the first steps were in the field of social legislation.
Charity vs. politics
For centuries it has been common for religious organizations to take care of the lowest class in the form of, for example, begging, orphanages and hospices. In the nineteenth century, there was a growing call for more intervention from politics. Laws were proposed on numerous subjects and more and more were implemented. The beginnings of the social system in the Netherlands originated here.
Half speed ahead
It was not without difficulty to implement the laws and set up a system that has evolved into what it looks like today. What do you take with you about this theme after visiting the exhibition?
Did you become interested in coming to do research as a result of visiting the exhibition? Please refer to the vu.nl/hdc website for more information.