Sarmaci a Holendrzy. Opinia staropolska wobec nowego narodu

Abstract

Medieval contacts of Poland and Netherlands are rare and casual. Flanders is the best known of all the Netherlands countries. Holland is not mentioned but as a symbol of Germany’s most distant borders. The beginnings of religious wars in Netherlands have no influence on the religious disputes in Poland. The Dutch insurgents are treated by the legalist Polish gentry, even by the protestants or by the antihabsburg politicians, as the rebels against their lawful prince. It is the civilization, not the politics, which creates in the Polish Commonwealth a favorable image of a new nation. Thomas à Kempis and Erasmus are the first ambassadors of the Dutch spirit in Poland. Afterwards the Dutch universities and the Dutch military camps are educating the young Polish and Lithuanians gentlemen, Dutch paintings are bought by them and decorating their country homes. Of course, the two civilizations are completely different. Between the individual rationalism of the Dutch commoner and the emotional, picturesque friendly Sarmatian gentleman there is no possibility of serious understanding. Anyway for the Polish gentlemen the Dutch civilisation is not only exotic, but also instructive. And generally they are enjoying the new possibilities offered by the contacts with the Dutchmen: they are able to adopt the practical lessons of the Dutch burghers. Thus the Dutch influence in early modem Poland may be considered as a proof of toleration, openness and the practical spirit of the Sarmatian noble civilization.