ABSTRACT
The nineteenth century saw several severe outbreaks of cholera in the Netherlands. This chapter discusses how Dutch society responded to this new and frightening disease. It is argued that cultural responses played an important role in increasing societal resilience. Resilience was strengthened and shaped by cultural media, such as paintings, prose, poems, songs, prints, novels, sermons, and concerts. By offering moral and religious explanations, cultural responses helped people to make sense of the disruptive events and to cope with their fears and uncertainties. Cultural responses also aimed at fostering a sense of community by raising money for the sufferers. Citizens were called to action in the local and national newspapers, poems, songs, and sermons. This led to impressive amounts being collected in a short time.
