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In the Netherlands there's now a show on TV where they're trying to elect the greatest Dutch person in history. I know similar shows have been held in other European countries and probably elsewhere in the world, so many of you probably know what I'm talking about. In the Dutch election, they've formed a top 10 of greatest Dutch persons (based on polls and consultation of 'experts') and they're currently voting to determine the order of that top 10.
This got me thinking about who I regard to be the greatest Dutch person in history, as I don't agree with some of the choices made in the TV show. I also got curious about other countries.
So, if there has been a Greatest Person election in your country, who has won it? (Or if it's still ongoing, who are still in the running?) And who do you yourself regard to be the greatest person(s) in your country's history?
This is the top 10 Greatest Dutchmen (yes, they're all men unfortunately) that I came up with myself:
1. Willem van Oranje (1533-1584)
Founding father of the Netherlands, led the revolt against the Spanish oppression.
2. Desiderius Erasmus (1467-1536)
Great philosopher, important religious reformer, one of the founders of humanism, pacifism, feminsim and Dutch morality (of liberalism and tolerance).
3. Johan Thorbecke (1798-1872)
Founding father of the Dutch democracy, wrote the modern Dutch constitution in 1848.
4. Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)
Inventor of the microscope and founder of microbiology.
5. Hugo de Groot/Hugo Grotius (1583-1645)
Dutch jurist, philosopher, theologian and writer. One of the founding figures of international law and important advocate of free trade.
6. Michiel de Ruyter (1607-1676)
Famous admiral, hero of the Anglo-Dutch wars. Among other things he warded off superior Anglo-French fleets to prevent an invasion of the Netherlands.
7. Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
World famous painter and nutjob
Quote: "generally considered one of the greatest painters in European art history".
8. Anton Philips (1874-1951)
Co-founder of the company that made the lightbulb big and that (among others) invented the music cassette and the CD.
9. M. C. Escher (1898-1972)
Famous 'mathematical' artist whose work featured many 'impossible' constructions and experimented with infinity, perception, perspective, light and dark, dimensions, etc.
10. Abel Tasman (1603-1659)
Dutch explorer, discovered Tasmania, New Zealand and Tonga and mapped the northern Australian coast.
For the record, the official top ten for the Dutch election is the following (in alphabetical order):
Johan Cruijf (legendary football player)
Willem Drees (post-WWII socialist prime-minister)
Desiderius Erasmus
Pim Fortuyn (populist politician who was assassinated a few years ago)
Anne Frank (Jewish holocaust victim, famous for her diary)
Vincent van Gogh
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
Willem van Oranje
Rembrandt van Rijn (famous painter; most famous work: "The Night Watch")
Michiel de Ruyter
Edit: typo.
This got me thinking about who I regard to be the greatest Dutch person in history, as I don't agree with some of the choices made in the TV show. I also got curious about other countries.
So, if there has been a Greatest Person election in your country, who has won it? (Or if it's still ongoing, who are still in the running?) And who do you yourself regard to be the greatest person(s) in your country's history?
This is the top 10 Greatest Dutchmen (yes, they're all men unfortunately) that I came up with myself:
1. Willem van Oranje (1533-1584)
Founding father of the Netherlands, led the revolt against the Spanish oppression.
2. Desiderius Erasmus (1467-1536)
Great philosopher, important religious reformer, one of the founders of humanism, pacifism, feminsim and Dutch morality (of liberalism and tolerance).
3. Johan Thorbecke (1798-1872)
Founding father of the Dutch democracy, wrote the modern Dutch constitution in 1848.
4. Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)
Inventor of the microscope and founder of microbiology.
5. Hugo de Groot/Hugo Grotius (1583-1645)
Dutch jurist, philosopher, theologian and writer. One of the founding figures of international law and important advocate of free trade.
6. Michiel de Ruyter (1607-1676)
Famous admiral, hero of the Anglo-Dutch wars. Among other things he warded off superior Anglo-French fleets to prevent an invasion of the Netherlands.
7. Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
World famous painter and nutjob
Quote: "generally considered one of the greatest painters in European art history".8. Anton Philips (1874-1951)
Co-founder of the company that made the lightbulb big and that (among others) invented the music cassette and the CD.
9. M. C. Escher (1898-1972)
Famous 'mathematical' artist whose work featured many 'impossible' constructions and experimented with infinity, perception, perspective, light and dark, dimensions, etc.
10. Abel Tasman (1603-1659)
Dutch explorer, discovered Tasmania, New Zealand and Tonga and mapped the northern Australian coast.
For the record, the official top ten for the Dutch election is the following (in alphabetical order):
Johan Cruijf (legendary football player)
Willem Drees (post-WWII socialist prime-minister)
Desiderius Erasmus
Pim Fortuyn (populist politician who was assassinated a few years ago)
Anne Frank (Jewish holocaust victim, famous for her diary)
Vincent van Gogh
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek
Willem van Oranje
Rembrandt van Rijn (famous painter; most famous work: "The Night Watch")
Michiel de Ruyter
Edit: typo.
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