Chapter Three. Strangers and Neighbors

Aachen Cathedral experienced a period of social integration between Dutch Reformed Protestants and local communities during the 16th century without significant cultural or economic tensions. The study reveals that migrants from the Low Countries, primarily artisans and craftsmen, spoke a dialect closely related to local languages, facilitating seamless communication. Unlike other regions, these immigrants did not dominate specific industries like cloth weaving but were diverse in professions such as baking, carpentry, and tailoring. Confessional differences existed but were not exacerbated by linguistic or ethnic divides, leading to a triconfessional coexistence managed by the city council. The research challenges the notion that Dutch immigrants introduced Reformed ideas to Aachen, instead highlighting their integration into local society and the absence of notable conflicts.

(Ed.). (2024). Chapter Three. Strangers and Neighbors. Dutch Reformed Protestants in the Holy Roman Empire, c.1550–1620, 98–142. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781805431619-007