Page:The study of history in Holland and Belgium (IA studyofhistoryin00frrich).pdf/15



In June, 1885, Leyden celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the installation of Prof. Robert Fruin, the most learned and most just of Dutch historians. His colleagues, old students and admirers from Holland, Belgium and the Dutch Indies, attempted to express in an informal ovation their high esteem and lively appreciation of the veteran. Finding myself at Leyden to attend the simple and touching ceremony, I made use of my stay in Holland to investigate the teaching of history there. The notes which follow, therefore, date back more than three years; but they have been brought down to the present moment, and I have completed them by investigations made in more recent visits.

The Dutch law of 1876, regulating the organization of advanced teaching, provides that in the three State Universities at Leyden, Utrecht and Groningen, the Arts curriculum shall include the following historical subjects: (a) National History; (b) Universal History and Political Geography; (c) History of Jewish, Greek and Roman Antiquities. The last are taught by the professors of Hebrew, Greek and Latin. The remaining courses are divided between two professors, R. Fruin and P.