The retaining membrane that held Dutch culture together for more than a century was a marvel of elasticity. Responding to appropriate external stimuli, it could expand or contract as the conditions of its survival altered. Under pressure, it could tighten to compress the Dutch into a sense of their indissoluble unity. In more expansive times it could relax and swell, allowing for internal differentiation and the absorption of a whole gamut of beliefs, faiths and even tongues. An omniscient kind of social filter swallowed up those foreign bodies and spat them out again as burghers: civically salubrious and residentially reliable.
The Dutch culture, as described by Simon Schama in "The Embarrassment of Riches," functioned like a flexible membrane that adapted over time. This membrane allowed Dutch society to respond effectively to external pressures, contracting to strengthen a unified identity during challenging periods. Conversely, in times of prosperity, it expanded, embracing internal diversity and accommodating various beliefs and languages.
This adaptive quality served as a social filter, assimilating foreign influences and transforming them into productive members of society. Thus, the integration of diverse elements enriched Dutch culture while maintaining a cohesive community, demonstrating the resilience and dynamism of the Dutch identity over centuries.
