Description

1. The first part is about the relationship between Willem Schermerhorn and Anton Mussert. During their studies in Delft, the two men were on friendly terms, but in the 1930s they came to be diametrically opposed to each other, when Mussert was leader of the NSB, and Schermerhorn chairman of Unity through Democracy, the main anti-NSB organisation.

2. The second section is again about two Delft engineers, brothers Willem and Dirk Schermerhorn. During his studies, Dirk Schermerhorn was won over to communism. Based on his new philosophy of life, he wanted to contribute to the construction of the Soviet Union, where he left for in 1924. There he quickly made a career as an engineer: in 1931 he was entrusted with the technical management of the railways. Focus will be on the relationship between the two brothers.

3. Finally, the relationship between Willem Schermerhorn and Queen Wilhelmina will be discussed. Initially, Schermerhorn was highly favoured by Wilhelmina as prime minister (1945-1946), but an incident during the year Schermerhorn negotiated with the Republic in Indonesia (1946-1947) caused him to fall into spectacular disfavour.

Speaker(s)

Dr Herman J. Langeveld studied History at the Free University in Amsterdam. After graduating in 1975, he worked in various positions at the VU University's Department of New History, most recently as associate professor. After early retirement, he was attached to the Biography Institute of the University of Groningen. (2006-2014).
He obtained his PhD in 1989 with a dissertation on the Christian Democratic Union, 1926-1946. His major publications include a two-volume biography of prime minister Hendrikus Colijn (1998 and 2004) and the biography of Willem Schermerhorn (2014), which appeared under the title De man die in de put springen. Willem Schermerhorn 1894-1977.

Location

Science Centre

Mijnbouwstraat 120, 2628 RX Delft

Organiser

History of Technology

Histechnica

Name and contact details for information

Further information from Dr Paul van Woerkom (tel. 070 - 3070275 in the evening) or via the e-mail address below

pthlmvanwoerkom@gmail.com

Route description