''De Nieuwe Gids'' (meaning ''The New Guide'' in English) was a Dutch illustrated literary periodical which was published from 1885 to 1943. It played an important role in promoting the literary movement of the 1880s. Its contents covered a wide range of topics, extending to developments in science.

History and profile

Around 1880, a group of young writers in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

, dissatisfied with the existing conservative literary climate, founded the group Flanor, also known as the

Tachtigers The Tachtigers ("Eightiers"), otherwise known as the Movement of Eighty ( nl, Beweging van Tachtig), were a radical and influential group of Dutch writers who developed a new approach in 19th-century Dutch literature. They interacted and worked ...

, and began publishing ''De Nieuwe Gids'' as a vehicle for their work. The first issue appeared on 1 October 1885. The title ''The New Guide'' was intended as a sarcastic anti-tribute to Amsterdam's prevailing literary journal, ''

De Gids ''De Gids'' (meaning ''The Guide'' in English) is the oldest Dutch literary periodical still published today. It was founded in 1837 by Everhardus Johannes Potgieter and Christianus Robidé van der Aa. Long regarded as the most prestigious literar ...

'' (''The Guide''), which the Tachtigers viewed as old-fashioned and didactic, and which had persistently rejected their submissions. Two of the founding editors and frequent contributors to ''The New Guide'' were the poet and critic

Willem Kloos Willem Johannes Theodorus Kloos (; 6 May 1859 – 31 March 1938) was a nineteenth-century Dutch poet and literary critic. He was one of the prominent figures of the Movement of Eighty and became editor in chief of ''De Nieuwe Gids'' after the edi ...

, and the poet, novelist, playwright, essayist, and psychiatrist

Frederik van Eeden Frederik Willem van Eeden (3 April 1860, Haarlem – 16 June 1932, Bussum) was a late 19th-century and early 20th-century Dutch writer and psychiatrist. He was a leading member of the Tachtigers and the Significs Group, and had top billing a ...

, both of whom are widely regarded today as canonical greats of Dutch literature. The other three founding editors of The New Guide were F. van der Goes, Willem Paap, and Albert Verwey. Other prominent Tachtigers' works first appeared in ''The New Guide'', including the literary critic

Lodewijk van Deyssel Lodewijk van Deyssel was the pseudonym of Karel Joan Lodewijk Alberdingk Thijm (22 September 1864, Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague ...

, and the poet

Herman Gorter Herman Gorter (26 November 1864, Wormerveer – 15 September 1927, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Brussels) was a Dutch poet and socialist. He was a leading member of the Tachtigers, a highly influential group of Dutch writers who worked together in ...

, who is probably the most widely read Tachtiger. His poem '' Mei'' was first published in ''De Nieuwe Gids'' in 1887. ''De Nieuwe Gids'' is almost entirely known for the material from its first few years. Within a few years of its founding, its editors had one falling out after another, until the only editor left by 1893 was Kloos, who himself was rapidly deteriorating into

mental illness A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitti ...

and

alcoholism Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol (drug), alcohol that results in significant Mental health, mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognize ...

, and who converted ''De Nieuwe Gids'' into little more than a personal journal for cataloguing his many betrayals and sufferings. It was purchased in 1938 by

Alfred Haighton Coenraad Alfred Augustus Haighton (26 October 1896 – 13 April 1943) was a millionaire businessman and the leader of the Netherlands' first fascist movement. Fascism From a privileged background, Haighton was born in Rotterdam and was well ed ...

who again changed focus, making the magazine a platform for pro-

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

material.

Philip Rees Philip Rees (born 1941) is a British writer and librarian formerly in charge of acquisitions at the J. B. Morrell Library, University of York. He has written books on fascism and the extreme right. Works *''Fascism in Britain'' (Harvester Pres ...

, ''

Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890 The ''Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890'' is a reference book by Philip Rees, on leading people in the various far right movements since 1890. It contains entries for what the author regards as "the 500 major figures on the ...

'', Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1990, p. 171 ''De Nieuwe Gids'' was finally discontinued in 1943.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nieuwe Gids 1885 establishments in the Netherlands 1943 disestablishments in the Netherlands Defunct literary magazines published in Europe Defunct magazines published in the Netherlands Dutch-language magazines Literary magazines published in the Netherlands Magazines established in 1885 Magazines disestablished in 1943 Magazines published in Amsterdam