What were the causes of the Iconoclastic Movement in the Dutch Revolt (1559-1648)?
In this essay I will be treating the iconoclastic movement in the Netherlands (1566 – 1567) as the beginning of the Dutch Revolt. I will begin by examining the historical context of the Dutch Revolt, that is to say, the political, economic and social aspects of the Netherlands in the sixteenth century. I will then look more specifically at direct cause and effect – what factors stimulated the launch of the iconoclasm in the Netherlands. I will also be taking into consideration those who supported the iconoclasts, overtly or otherwise, and try to understand what their motives were.
