Date of Award
2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Fine and Decorative Art and Design
Abstract
This dissertation examines the emergence of the Dutch Republic as a Grand Tour destination, tracing its foundations in the seventeenth century and its consolidation in the eighteenth century. Whilst traditional itineraries centred on encounters with classical antiquity and Renaissance art, the Republic attracted travellers through its financial stability, flourishing art market, renowned universities, and reputation for tolerance and modernity. These qualities offered visitors a distinctive intellectual and sociocultural experience that complemented, and at times rivalled, the established centres of the Grand Tour. This study addresses three interrelated themes: the Republic’s rise as a Grand Tour destination in its own right; the artistic and diplomatic networks that fostered transnational elite sociability; and the material outcomes of travel, particularly the acquisition of artworks and objects. Drawing on travel accounts and case studies, it highlights how foreign visitors engaged not only with the Dutch upper classes, but also with artists, merchants, and scientists. Such encounters reflected the Republic’s unique social fabric, in which knowledge and expertise circulated widely across society. By analysing the intellectual, sociocultural, and material dimensions of Grand Tours to the Republic, this dissertation demonstrates its significance within early modern Europe and its enduring influence on the formation of cultural taste.
Recommended Citation
van Oosten, Boele, "The Emergence of the Dutch Republic as a Grand Tour Destination" (2026). MA in Fine and Decorative Art and Design Dissertations. 10.
https://digitalcommons.sia.edu/ma_fine_ad/10