Organised Spinozism in the Netherlands (1897–2022): Growth, Flourishing, Decay and Revival

Abstract

This paper gives an outline of the history of organised Spinozism in the Netherlands, divided into three periods. In 1897 the Vereniging het Spinozahuis (VHS) was established. On the one hand, it wanted to preserve the physical and spiritual heritage of Spinoza, being an essential part of Dutch identity, and on the other hand, it strived for the propagation of Spinozism, which might fill the void left by the end of Christianity. This double aim precluded the transformation of the VHS into an international society to disseminate Spinozism. To that end the Societas Spinozana was established in 1920. It had to contribute to the solution of the spiritual crisis created by the WWI which had divided humanity. By the time of National-Socialism and during the post-war reconstruction period, in which philosophies incompatible with Spinozism dominated, the VHS successfully returned to the initial aim of preserving Spinoza’s heritage, but in the 1970s Spinozism once more became a viable alternative to traditional religion.