Hendrik Tollens

Hendrik Tollens (actually Hendricus Franciscus Caroluszoon Tollens; * September 24, 1780 in Rotterdam, † October 21, 1856 in Rijswijk ) was a Dutch writer of Flemish origin.

Life

Tollens was by profession a merchant. But when he first gaining popularity after his debut as a writer, he retired from business life.

He earned in Rijswijk an old manor house and settled there as a writer. After his death his house was turned into a museum and also in use today. After his most famous residents it has the name Het Great Shui (Eng. The Tollens house).

As representatives of the Biedermeier Tollens was a typical folk poets of his time. Especially in his - in his lifetime very popular - poems he thematized virtues such as patriotism, piety, modesty, and the great past of the Netherlands ( Golden Age ). From today's perspective Tollens poetry is but a little too pompous and prolix.

His poem "Wien Neerlands Bloed " was even until 1932, the Dutch national anthem. The first two lines in Vienna Neerlands bloed d' aders vloeit / Van vreemde smetten vrij ... (Eng. Who the Netherlands Blood flows through the veins / Of foreign Brokering free ... ) but were always of the blood - and-soil ideology linked to Nazism and were unsustainable at the latest from 1945.

But they found a worthy replacement in the song Het Wilhelmus. The author of this text Philips van Marnix is suspected. In addition, William I of Orange -Nassau was popular and still unforgotten.

During his lifetime Tollens was widely read and frequently quoted in public events from the middle classes and recited. At the age of 76 years Hendrik Tollens died on 21 October 1856 in Rijswijk. Soon after his death, not only the work but also was "brave Heinrich" quickly forgotten.

Works

• Poems (1808 )
• Idylls en minne pliers (1801-1805)
• Constants: a tragedy
• Laatste poems (1848-1853)
• Nieuve poems (1821 )
• Romances, ballads, legends en (1818 )
• Tafereel van de overwintering of Nederlanders op Nova Zembla in de jaren 1596 en 1597 (1816 )