ABSTRACT

Images of the enemy were tied to people. Louis XIV was the most important enemy and through him, the French people. But there were other foes too. A particular target was Bernard Christoph von Galen, Prince-Bishop of Munster and ally of Louis, who invaded the north-east of the Republic in 1672. 'Fatherland' was used to mean various things. The identification of the fatherland with freedom or independence such as in the words 'vrye vaderlandt' was also concrete. Sentiment was also used by placing the fatherland in a historical context such as the sixteenth century struggle against Spain. The final verse summarises: courage and fortitude were the virtues of the Batavians, and should inspire the contemporary fight for freedom and fatherland. Moreover, 'fatherland' referred to the past, especially to the Dutch Revolt and the war against Spain. The independence that had been fought for then had to be retained and the forefathers would pass on this message to their descendants.