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GNE-History

Wanneer was GNE opgericht?

GNE werd opgericht in 1920 in de periode na de Eerste Wereldoorlog, toen Nederlandse industriëlen en politici erg geïnteresseerd waren om de banden met Groot-Brittannië te versterken. 

Geschiedenis van GNE

De echte geschiedenis van GNE is moeilijk in detail weer te geven omdat de Duitsers dossiers, correspondentie en geld van de meeste GNE afdelingen kort nadat ze Nederland bezet hadden in beslag genomen hebben. Alles werd meegenomen naar Berlijn en in 1945 verhuisde de Russen al het materiaal naar Rusland. Gelukkig is het Nederlandse Instituut voor Oorlogsdocumentatie in 2009 in staat gebleken om een deel van het in beslag genomen materiaal uit de Russische archieven terug te krijgen. Het materiaal geeft een goed inzicht in de aard van de personen, professionals en zakenmensen die lid waren vóór de Tweede Wereldoorlog.

Het is niet helemaal duidelijk wat de motieven waren voor het oprichten van GNE. Vóór 1914 had Nederland sterke banden met Duitsland en de Boerenoorlog had ernstige negatieve gevolgen voor de betrekkingen met Engeland. Na 1918 verloor Duitsland de sympathie die het voor de oorlog had. De Duitse politiek en economische onrust in Duitsland was misschien een extra reden zich te wenden tot overwinnaar England. Politici en zakenlieden hebben daarom waarschijnlijk het Genootschap op 24 april 1920 opgericht als een reactie op Wereldoorlog I, en het is waarschijnlijk dat ze dachten dat het opportuun was om de betrekkingen met Engeland te versterken vanuit economisch oogpunt.

GNE direct na de Tweede Wereldoorlog

Het Genootschap is in 1946 samengevoegd met de `Engelse Associatie in Holland’. Deze vereniging bestond uit een groot aantal van het Engels clubs die al vóór de Eerste Wereldoorlog bestonden. Hun voornaamste doel was om Engels Literatuur en cultuur meer bekendheid in Nederland te maken.

Bekende voorzitters van GNE

Voor en na de Tweede Wereldoorlog, had GNE politici, ministers en premiers als nationaal voorzitter. Na de Tweede Wereldoorlog hadden we een minister-president voor een periode van 15 jaar, en twee CEO’s van beursgenoteerde ondernemingen, samen voor een ononderbroken periode van 9 jaar, als onze Nationale Voorzitter. Namelijk:
1. Prof. Gerbrandy, minister-president in de Nederlandse oorlog kabinet.
2. Dr. Paul Rijkens, voorzitter van de raad van bestuur van Unilever.
3. De heer JH Loudon, voorzitter van de raad van Koninklijke Nederlandse Shell.
 

Door GNE geïnitieerde en georganiseerde grote tentoonstellingen

Te noemen zijn hier de 1970 tentoonstelling, getiteld "schok van herkenning" en de 1995 tentoonstelling, getiteld "Gezichten op Windsor". Deze tentoonstellingen werden gehouden in het Mauritshuis in Den Haag, de Tate Gallery in Londen en het Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Ze werden allemaal geopend op naam van GNE door personen van koninklijke huize. Een ander voorbeeld is dat GNE de (BBC) Antiek Roadshow naar Amsterdam heeft gekregen.

 

When was GNE Founded?

The GNE was founded in 1920 in the period after World War I, when Duch industrialists and politicians were particularly keen to strengthen ties with Great Britain.
 

History of GNE

The real history of GNE is difficult to tell. This being because the Germans confiscated files, correspondence and money from most GNE branches soon after they had occupied The Netherlands. Everything was taken to Berlin and in 1945 the Russians moved all material to Russia. Luckily the Netherlands State Institute for War Documentation has been able to regain some of the confiscated material from the Russian archives in 2009. The material gives a good insight in the type of person, professional and businessmen that were members before the Second World War.

It is not quite clear what the motives were to found GNE. Before 1914 Holland had strong bonds with Germany and the Boer War had had a serious negative effect on the relations with England. After 1918 all that was changed. Germany lost the sympathy that it had had before the war, and the state of political and economic unrest in Germany was perhaps an added reason to turn to victorious England. Politicians and businessmen therefore probably founded The Genootschap on the 24th April 1920 as a reaction to World War 1, and it is likely that they thought it expedient to strengthen relations with England from an economic point of view.
 

History of GNE since the Second World War

The Genootschap amalgamated in 1946 with the ‘English Association in Holland’. This association consisted of a large number of English clubs, which already existed before World War I. Their main objective was to make English Literature and culture more widely known in Holland.

Well known presidents of GNE

Before and after the Second World War, GNE had politicians, ministers and prime-ministers as National President. After the Second World War we had one prime minister for a period of 15 years, and two Chief Excecutive Officers, together for a continuous period of 9 years, as our National president.
They were:
1. Prof. Gerbrandy, prime minister in the Dutch war cabinet.
2. Dr. Paul Rijkens, President of the Board of Unilever.
3. Mr. J.H. Loudon, President of the Board of Royal Dutch Shell.

Major exhibitions that GNE initiated and organized

The 1970 Exhibition, entitled "Shock of Recognition" and the 1995 Exhibition, entitled “Views of Windsor”. These Exhibitions were held at the Mauritshuis in The Hague, the Tate Gallery in London and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. They were all opened on behalf of GNE by royals. Another example is that GNE got the (BBC) Antiques Roadshow to Amsterdam.

Read the following introduction from Sir David Miers KBE CMG (then British Ambassador to the Netherlands) on a book about GNE (1920-1995).

`In this 75th anniversary year of the Genootschap, it is with particular pleasure that I welcome this fascinating work on its history. The author (ir. M. Hugenholtz MBE) is to be congratulated on his accomplishment. He has been thwarted by the absence of so many earlier records, assumed to be in Russia and not immediately retrievable. But Martin Hugenholtz has produced with much patience and good humour a vivid picture of the Society`s past built up from the material available to him, supported by Tom Landheer`s valuable contribution on its present-day activity. I am sure that all readers, both Genootschap members and potential members, will find it as compelling a read as I have. I note well that in earlier times the British Ambassador was not patron of the Genootschap. Since my arrival at The Hague, I have valued both the work of the Genootschap in Netherlands-British relations and the friendship of so many of its members in all parts of the country. I wish the GNE a healthy future, admiring its vision for a strengthened and broadened membership and activities towards its l00th birthday in 2020`.

De aan GNE uitgereikte Koninklijke erepenning:


 

 

 
events

During the GNE lecture season, events are regularly held and talks are given about once a month and unless otherwise stated, these are delivered in English. The visiting speakers are all experts in their chosen fields and their lectures are both informative and entertaining. They may feature different aspects of British life, arts and culture, places and people. Occasionally we are also treated to a traveller`s tale. Wherever possible, lectures are illustrated.
An overview of this year`s programme is given below. For more details on our events and talks please click events & talks. For the full programme with dates, venues and entry fees per branch, please click branches.

 
John-Wyatt:

JOHN WYATT is a specialist in African birds and animals having worked for 12 years in Northern Rhodesia/Zambia. In 1971 he began lecturing on wildlife and archaeological subjects and has now given over 3000 such talks. He co-authored and published the highly acclaimed British Teach Yourself Bird Sounds cassette series and led wildlife tours to many parts of the World but especially Africa and The Netherlands. At present the World`s only full-time Ornitho-Egyptologist undertaking research in Egypt and elsewhere for a book on Birds in Ancient Egypt : A Guide to their Identification which is scheduled for publication in August 2012.

Birds in Ancient EgyptMore information...
Hadrian`s WallMore information...
 
Ian White:

Ian White is a retired research scientist, who worked on computer and communications systems, but developed an interest in horology over twenty years ago. This includes its science, its history, and the social role of time.
He has earlier published a history of the Watch and Clockmakers in the City of Bath. Click clock-makers-at -batth for more information.
He has also advised Sotheby’s in 2010 on the history of a clock they recently sold (for $520,000).
He has worked in The Hague for four years, (1993–1997).
 

The Life and work of James CoxMore information...
 
John Cameron-Webb:
Operation Market GardenMore information...
 
John Pilkington:

John Pilkington has been called “one of Britain’s greatest tellers of travellers’ tales”.
In 1983, after journeys in Africa and Latin America, he completed a 500-mile solo crossing of the western Nepal Himalaya, and told the story in his first book, Into Thin Air. His interest in Asia grew further with the opening in 1986 of the border between Pakistan and China, making it possible – for the first time in forty years – to retrace virtually the whole of the Silk Road. John was one of the first modern travellers to do so, and he wrote about the journey in An Adventure on the Old Silk Road. This was followed in 1991 by An Englishman in Patagonia; recounting eight months spent exploring the southernmost tip of South America.
In 2000 he became one of only four people in modern times to walk the 1,600-mile Royal Road of the Incas in the Andes of Ecuador and Peru. In 2003 he explored the Mekong River and, with two Tibetans, reached and mapped its source at over 17,000 feet. In 2006 he turned his attention to the Sahara Desert, and joined a camel caravan carrying salt for 450 miles from the mines of Taoudenni to Timbuktu.

Georgia to AfghanistanMore information...
 
Florian Schweizer:

Dr Florian Schweizer is Director of the Charles Dickens Museum and leads the global Dickens 2012 campaign.
He studied in Germany and Britain and holds a PhD in English Literature from the University of London. He has worked at the Charles Dickens Museum since 2002 and is now managing a major redevelopment project which will establish the Museum as the most accessible literary museum in England. He has published and lectured widely on Dickens, the Victorians and British culture.

Wonderful Things: Museums and Galleries in LondonMore information...
 
Anne Marie Evans:

Anne Marie Evans MA FLS earned a Distinction in Fine Art at the ‘Bath Academy of Art’ and, then studied for a Masters at the ‘De Montfort University’, also graduating with a Distinction.  She is a world-famous artist who originally developed the English Gardening school’s - Diploma Course in Botanical Painting. She teaches worldwide and is co-author of An Approach to Botanical Painting.
For details see: Teaching and learning art with Anne Marie Evans and English Gardening School

Mrs Evans will try to bring the Highgrove Florilegium for the audience to see.

The History of FlorilegiaMore information...
 
Julian Paren:

Julian Paren is a physicist by training with a PhD in glaciology awarded by the University of Cambridge for research on the electrical properties of ice carried out at the Scott Polar Research Institute.  After a spell as Nuffield Senior Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham he joined the British Antarctic Survey in 1976 and made nine visits to Antarctica.  In his later years at BAS he was Director’s Assistant and Head of Information and Archives.  Throughout his time at BAS and in retirement he ran adult-education courses for the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning.

A photographic evening: Going South - the Antartic ExperienceMore information...
Exploring the Islands and western coast of ScotlandMore information...
Travelling the Western Isles of ScotlandMore information...
 
John McAleer:

John McAleer is Curator of Imperial and Maritime History in Greenwich (London).
He tries to convey the importance of imperial and maritime history using the rich and unique collections of objects and artefacts held at the National Maritime Museum. He does this in all sorts of ways from working on exhibitions and publishing scholarly articles to giving lectures and facilitating education sessions. He contributes regularly to conferences and journals by giving papers and writing articles and reviews related to my area of expertise.
 

Monsoon Traders: Britain, Asia and the East India CompanyMore information...
Scheepvaartmuseum: Monsoon Traders: Britain, Asia and the East India CompanyMore information...