Fifty icons from the past and present

Dutch history and culture can be summed up in a timeline (known as the canon) made up of fifty icons, ranging from megalithic tombs to William of Orange, the Constitution and the gas fields in Slochteren.

That is the conclusion reached by the Van Oostrom Committee, the body appointed to produce the canon as an aid to teaching the history of the Netherlands.

According to the Committee’s report, which Chairman Frits van Oostrom presented to education minister Maria van der Hoeven, the purpose of the canon is to inspire people to learn more about the past.

Knowledge of history
The basis for a sound knowledge of Dutch history and culture is formed at school. The canon is not a new subject in itself, but will be part of existing attainment targets (i.e. something pupils are required to know).

The Committee sees the teacher as the key to successful learning. That is why teacher training courses should devote more attention to history as a subject. The Committee also recommends organising refresher training for teachers.

Website
The Committee also provides recommendations on the form and presentation of the canon. Every school should have a large wall chart on which the fifty icons are displayed.

The website www.entoen.nu was launched on 16 October. It displays all the icons, with further information and links. Visitors to the site can also post their own contributions.

Government response
The government will not comment on the proposed timeline. That is the Committee’s responsibility.

In six months’ time, the Committee will respond to comments from the general public and the government’s policy response. It will be up to the next government to act on the proposal with definite plans.

More information: www.entoen.nu (English)