Encyclopedia of Romantic Nationalism in Europe

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Helmers, Jan Frederik

  • DutchLiterature (fictional prose/drama)Literature (poetry/verse)Historical background and context
  • GND ID
    11943637X
    Social category
    Insurgents, activistsCreative writers
    Title
    Helmers, Jan Frederik
    Title2
    Helmers, Jan Frederik
    Text

    Jan Frederik Helmers (Amsterdam 1767 – Amsterdam 1813) is best known for his influential national epic De Hollandsche natie (“The Dutch nation”, 1812). In his early twenties Helmers started publishing patriotic political and philosophical poems, most of which were collected in Gedichten (“Poems”, 2 vols, 1809-10) and Nagelaten gedichten (“Bequeathed poems”, 2 vols, 1814-15). His main work, De Hollandsche natie, appeared in 1812. It is written in the tradition of the great epic poems of Tasso and Camões. It surveys Dutch national history and celebrates the national past, with specific emphasis placed on the nation’s founding father, William of Orange (1533–1584), the naval heroes of the 17th century, the colonial empire, and national poets and painters.

    De Hollandsche natie is also considered one of the most important poems of Dutch anti-Napoleonic resistance literature (between 1810 and 1813, the Netherlands were annexed into the French Empire). The first edition of De Hollandsche natie was heavily censored by the French authorities. After the liberation an uncensored version appeared, which was reprinted several times. Although the popularity of Helmers’s national poem rapidly decreased in the second half of the 19th century, De Hollandsche natie remained a classic.

    Word Count: 187

    Article version
    1.1.1.3/b
  • Hattum, Marinus van; Jan Fredrik Helmers, 1767-1813: Leven en werk van een Amsterdamse wereldburger (Amsterdam: Schiphouwer en Brinkman, 1996).

    Jensen, Lotte; Verzet tegen Napoleon (Nijmegen: Vantilt, 2013).

    Jensen, Lotte; “Inleiding”, in Helmers, Jan Frederik; De Hollandse natie (Nijmegen: Van Tilt, 2009).

    Jensen, Lotte; “The Dutch against Napoleon: Resistance literature and national identity, 1806-1813”, Journal of Dutch literature, 2.2 (2011), 5-26.


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    All articles in the Encyclopedia of Romantic Nationalism in Europe edited by Joep Leerssen are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at https://www.spinnet.eu.

    © the author and SPIN. Cite as follows (or as adapted to your stylesheet of choice): Jensen, Lotte, 2022. "Helmers, Jan Frederik", Encyclopedia of Romantic Nationalism in Europe, ed. Joep Leerssen (electronic version; Amsterdam: Study Platform on Interlocking Nationalisms, https://ernie.uva.nl/), article version 1.1.1.3/b, last changed 20-04-2022, consulted 28-03-2024.