The relationship between the Netherlands and the Islamic world dates back to before the Crusades (1095-1291), when Dutch pilgrims frequented the holy sites in Palestine, and then interest in the Islamic world increased, as orientalists from all over the world flocked to study it in the context of European colonial projects from Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain and France.

In his book "The Dutch School of Orientalism and its Role in Preserving the Manuscript Islamic Heritage", published by Arab Science Publishers (2022), writer Haidar Qasim Matar Al-Tamimi seeks to reconsider the negative stereotype of Orientalism, by explaining his account of the role played by the Dutch School of Orientalism in caring for the Arab-Islamic heritage and preserving some of its traces from extinction.

The author also examines the role of the aristocratic Dutch Joenbühl family in the field of Arab and Islamic studies, and shows the extent of their interest and care for the Arab-Islamic heritage, which gave birth to six veteran orientalists and preserved in its library a collection of important original Islamic manuscripts.

Looking East. Historical rooting

In the first chapter of the book, the author deals with the most prominent features of the Dutch school, including universities and intellectual and cultural institutions that provided clear services to the Arab and Islamic manuscript heritage. At the forefront is Leiden University, which was founded in 1575 and began Orientalist studies in 1591.

On the other hand, Dutch academic Richard van Leeuween, who specializes in Middle Eastern history and Arabic literature, commented, "Since the seventies of the last century, Arabic literature has been translated in a more systematic way, and several translations of the Qur'an into Dutch have appeared, and the first translation of One Thousand and One Nights from Arabic to Dutch."

Academic and author Haider Al-Tamimi (Al Jazeera)

Colonial orientation

The Dutch Orientalist School, through its men, presented research and scientific achievements in the field of the study of Arabic language and Islamic civilization. Haidar al-Tamimi points out that from the end of the nineteenth century until World War II (1939-1945), the Dutch presented collective research projects, such as: the "Islamic Encyclopedia" whose first edition was edited by Professor Martaren Theodore Hotzma (1851-1943), and the "Indexed Dictionary" of the words of the Prophet's hadith" by the great Dutch orientalist Arendt Jan Vinsink (1882-1939).

Regarding the excellence of the Dutch school, Tamimi said, "We can consider the craft of manuscript realization as the most prominent feature that distinguished the Dutch school from other European orientalist schools."

Al-Tamimi argues in his book that the study of Arabic was for a better understanding of the language of the Old Testament (interpretation of theology) by Dutch orientalists, while orientalist Richard Lewin Van argues that "Protestant orientalists challenged the traditional Catholic debate against Islam, and considered knowledge of Arabic and Islamic texts vital to a true understanding of Islam and to dialogue with Muslims on religious issues."

"From the beginning there was a controversial element among Christians in the study of Arabic and Islam, because until the seventeenth century the Catholic Church monopolized the study of Islam and relied on incomplete translations of the Qur'an produced in the Middle Ages," Van said. The Dutch orientalist believes that "Protestants built their own scientific networks and developed a new approach to Islam, based on a more objective interest in textual sources."

On the other hand, academic Haider al-Tamimi expressed his opposition, saying, "The general trend of Dutch academics and travelers can be reduced to the colonial orientation that the Netherlands was active in at the beginning of the Middle European era, so that looking to the East became the goal of every intellectual and discreet student."

Dutch academic Richard van Leeuwen (Al Jazeera)

Arabic Studies in the Netherlands. Historical role

Regarding the hostile view of Islam, Tamimi believes that "this cannot be considered a general thing among Dutch orientalists," adding, "Despite the passage of centuries of research and excavation into the mysteries of Arab and Islamic heritage, doubt and skepticism still exist clearly in the folds of their writings and research."

Regarding the change in the attitude of Dutch orientalists towards Islam, Tamimi said, "The hostile and provocative language that was apparent in many of what was written by Dutch orientalists in previous centuries has disappeared, but this cannot in any way be considered a matter specific to Islam and their view towards it, as much as we see it in line with the general situation in Europe in dealing objectively and impartially during the study of any religion or society around the world in general."

Between Oriental Studies and Colonial Policy

According to the book, interest in the Arabic language culminated in the controversial Islamic and Arabic studies scholar Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje (1857-1936), who after traveling to Mecca in 1884 and 1885 became an adviser on Muslim and indigenous affairs in the Dutch East Indies, and an influential player in Dutch colonial policy.

Dr. Haider Al-Tamimi believes that "the colonial motive was a major factor on which the Dutch school as a whole was based," and explains, "Hergronje certainly cannot be exempted from this rule, especially since he is one of those who distinguished himself from the rest of his colleagues. Hergronje's scientific achievement remains overshadowing the disadvantages that may have occurred during his time in a number of Arab countries, as it is no secret that this great orientalist had sober and important research achievements that served and preserved the Arab heritage for many generations."

Dutch orientalist specialized in Islamic and Arabic studies Christian Snook Hergronje (Al Jazeera)

For Richard van Leeuween, Hergronje "is perhaps the greatest Dutch scholar of Islam of the twentieth century. It clearly embodies the relationship between oriental studies and colonial politics, and has also shown genuine interest in Islam and the modernization of Indonesia."

The Dutch studied Arabic. Dialogue with the East

Al-Tamimi says that Dutch scholars began after World War II to pay great and unprecedented attention to the Arabic language and culture, as a pamphlet for the Arabic language was established at the universities of Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Nijmegen, and reviewed the most prominent scholars at Leiden University who contributed to the study of Arab literature, including: Jan Bergman (1923-2004), who studied modern Arabic literature in Egypt, and his successor Rimke Krook, who specialized in transferring Greek knowledge to the Islamic world and from there to the West, and from these ancient knowledge are popular epics and magic. and medieval botany and zoology.

Tamimi mentions the scholar of Arabic language and Islam at the beginning of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment Adrian Ryland (1676-1718), who worked as a professor of oriental languages in Utrecht and published in 1705 a book on Islam entitled De Religione Mohammedica, in which he debunked medieval myths about Islam and called for a rational approach. Ryland said that Islam is a religion devoid of many misconceptions that pervade Europe.

"From the sixties onwards in particular, the study of Arabic and Islam became fragmented, as traditional centres of Arabic studies were marginalized, and Islam became a subject in the fields of anthropology and sociology," says Dutch orientalist Richard Lewin.

Orientalist Lewin explains: "As a result, it is no longer possible to talk about oriental studies, as the study of Islam is now divided into several disciplines and fields, especially since Islam became local in Europe."

Dr. Haider Al-Tamimi answers – in an interview with Al Jazeera Net – about the extent to which Arab and Islamic studies are directed by some Dutch orientalists towards the future according to a scientific perception of human dimensions, saying, "The transformation that has occurred in the nature of research trends within this school can be considered a facet of keeping pace with the current situation, and in line with contemporary academic requirements."

Orientalist Richard Van Leeuwen asserts that "Islam has become a subject in social studies and religious studies programs, while literature and language have been the main focus of Arabic studies programs."

"The vision of Islam has shifted from Indonesia and the Arab world towards focusing on Muslims in the Netherlands and Europe, and thus Arabic language study programs have been significantly reduced, which of course has led to a low level of language proficiency," he adds.

"This will negatively affect future scholarships in other areas of Arab and Islamic studies," Van Leeuwen concludes.