Over 750 works about vegetarianism and natural medicine, the complete lending library of the Nederlandsche Vegetariërsbond [Dutch league of vegetarians] (NVB) are now integrally available at the IISH. This library dates back to 1896, when the NVB received a donation of books from Mr J.L. van de Coeverring. This collection of books and leaflets gave rise to the library that has been the property of the IISH since the late 1960s.
At the end of the nineteenth century notions about vegetarianism reached the Netherlands. The inspiration for a league of vegetarians came from England, where A. Verschoor met Dr T.L. Allinson, a physician and the inventor of the well-known health bread, in 1891. In 1894 Verschoor urged establishing a vegetarian association in his pamphlet Een bond voor vegetariërs [A league for vegetarians]. At the end of this leaflet, which justified vegetarianism on hygienic and ethical grounds, was a form to complete that read as follows:
' 'The undersigned affirms that he/she has kept to a vegetarian diet (comprising vegetable products with or without the addition of eggs, milk, butter and cheese but excluding all meat, fish and poultry), for ... year/months. [...]
He/she is also willing to join a Dutch league of vegetarians, to work as a member of such a body to disseminate the knowledge of fundamental ideas embodied within the vegetarian doctrine and the vegetarian diet.'
Read more about:
- Information on the background of the collection and some usefull links
- A selection of booktitles with illustrations and citations