Een sprong in het duister

De kritiek in de Nederlandse maatschappij ten aanzien van Europese integratie, 1950-1952

Samenvatting

This article examines the extent of criticism in Dutch society regarding European integration during the period from 9 May 1950 to 23 July 1952. The focus of the article lies with the ‘Schumanplan’, which was heavily debated in this period. The development of European integration in the Netherlands is studied from the perspective of criticism, contributing to an underexplored theme in historiography. The analysis demonstrates that criticism was more prevalent than commonly assumed. The findings show that there was significant criticism within Dutch society during this period. Fundamental objections were raised from the political fringes, rooted in fears of the erosion of national sovereignty. Additionally, there were pragmatic objections concerning the form and implications of the Schumanplan. Although European integration enjoyed broad support in Dutch society, this study reveals that such support was not self-evident.