NUYENS, WILLIAM JAN FRANS. - Dutch Catholic historian, b. at Avenhorn near Hoorn on 18 Aug. 1823, d. at Westwood (De Streek) on 8 Dec. 1894. Having earned his degree in medicine in 1848, he devoted himself instead to the study of national history, especially that of Dutch Catholics.
In 1856-57 he published two volumes on the influence of Catholicism on European civilization (Het Katholicismus in betrekking met de beschaving van Europa). His most important work is an exhaustive study of the wars in the Netherlands from 1559 to 1598 (Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche Beroerten in de XVI. eeuw, Amsterdam 1865-70). This work was followed by the history of the religious and political disputes in the republic of the seven united provinces (Geschiedenis der kerkelijke en politieke geschillen in de republiek der zeven vereenigde provincien, ibid. 1886-87), for the period from 1598 to 1625. He also published various works of Dutch history of a rather popular character. Thus a history of the Netherlands from its origins to our own days (Algemeen Geschiedenis des Nederlandschens Volks van de vroegste tijden tot op onze dagen, ibid. 1871-82, in 20 parts; new ed. of 1896-98 in 24 parts), and a history of the contemporary Netherlands in the 19th century (Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Volk van 1815 tot op onze dagen, ibid. 1883-84 in 4 parts; 2nd ed. of 1898). He also carried on a wide-ranging activity as a publicist, especially on the Roman Question, and wrote a history of the government of Pius IX (Geschiedenis der Regering van Pius IX, ibid. 1862-63). A defender of the rights of Catholics, he was one of the first supporters of the freedom of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands.
Bibliography
Silvio Furlani