Over zwoegers en zeloten. J.D. van der Waals en veranderingen in het studenten-leven, 1877-1900

Abstract

Van der Waals and changes in Dutch student life, 1877-1900 The physicist J.D. Van der Waals can be considered as one of the first successful professional Dutch scientists. With regard to teaching he had a modern attitude as well. Contrary to the relatively low standard of teaching that was common in the Dutch academic world in the early nineteenth century, he was a very demanding teacher. Only gifted students were able with hard work to succeed in their studies. It is hard to reconcile the stern teacher Van der Waals with the picture that exists of traditional student life in the nineteenth century. Students behaved in an undisciplined way, their parties seemed more important to them than their studies. They could behave like that because they belonged to a privileged part of society. As sons of the higher classes they were assured of a good position in Dutch society. In this article it is shown that the students of Van der Waals belonged to a new group of students who managed to enter Dutch universities. As a result of political changes and economical growth, students with middle-class background gradually started to gain access to Dutch universities. It appears that the students of Van der Waals largely belonged to this new group of students. They were of relatively low descent. Because their future depended on it, they took their studies, contrary to many traditional students, very seriously. Moreover, science was the way to manifest themselves in Amsterdam student life, which they could not do with money and good manners.