Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen

Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen =
Society of Hollandish Chemists

Founding of the Society

Year Authority / Notes

1790 Snelders (1980), p.13 indicates that the activities of the Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen comprised a period of only over ten years: the circle of friends was founded at the end of 1790 or the beginning of 1791, and carried out its most important chemical experiments up to the beginning of the 19th century. The founders were the merchant Adriaan Paets van Troostwijk (1752-1837) and the physician Jan Rudolph Deiman (1743-1808), with Pieter Nieuwland (1764-1794) and Nicolaas Bondt (1765-1796). After the departure of Nieuwland for Leiden and his sudden death, Anthoni Lauwerenburg (1758-1820) took his place, and after the passing away of Bondt, Gerardus Vrolik (1775-1859) joined.
Snelders (1980), p.11 points out that the members of this Society were among the earliest supporters of the new chemical system of Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794).
Snelders (1980), later (on p.55), emphasizes the role of two of its members by saying that the Society was founded in Amsterdam by Adriaan Paets van Troostwijk (1752-1837) and Jan Rudolph Deiman (1743-1808) probably around the end of 1790 or the beginning of 1791. He adds that after about 1802 it died a natural death.
Snelders (1980), p.55, points out, however, that this was not a true society, but a circle of friends that met irregularly; nor did they have rules and regulations. But scholars outside the country, and especially in France, thought of it as a real society, and bestowed the members of this society with the name Les Chymistes Hollandoises, not realizing that the fruit of their labours came from so few people. The results of their first researches were laid down in their own publication (in the French language) Recherches Physico-Chimiques, three issues of which appeared between 1792 and 1794.
According to Snelders (1980), p.69, in 1799 the Society went on to publish a new journal (this one in the Dutch language) entitled Natuur-Scheikundige Verhandelingen, which published four stukken (issues) from 1799 to 1808. The titles and dates of the articles in this new journal (and its French language predecessor) are given on pp.71-72 of Snelders (1980). An examination of the latter enumeration indicates that 1799 saw 12 articles published, 1800 saw one, 1801 saw one, 1802 saw one, and 1808 saw one. It should also be noted that the numbering and publication dates of the stukken as follows: 1 (1799), 2 (1799), 3 (1800-1802) and 4 (1808).
The decline in publishing from 1800 to 1802 and the six year gap in publishing between 1802 and 1808 partially explains the remark on Snelders (1980), p.55 that after about 1802 the Society died a natural death. On p.101, Snelders (1980) refers to the single article in the 4th stuk (1808) as reporting on an unimportant investigation. Then on p.102, it is noted that in the foreward to that 4th stuk, Paets van Troostwijk, Lauwerenburg, and Vrolik indicate that this stuk (after a six-year gap) was intended to revive the Society to honour their dead friend, Deiman. But Snelders (1980), p.102 remarks that their attempt to revive the Society clearly failed, so that 1802 should be taken as the date of cessation.

Seat of the Society

City Authority / Notes

Amsterdam
Netherlands This location is supported by Snelders (1980), p.11.

Name of the Society

Dates Name Authority

1790 - 1802 Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen Snelders (1980), p.13 gives the name and founding year. Snelders (1980), p.102 argues for this cessation date.

1790 - 1802 Les Chymistes Hollandoises Snelders (1980), p.55 establishes this name among the French.

Journals of the Society

Years Full Journal Title Abbrev. Indexed
1792 - 1794
(Cahier 1 - 3)

A Recherches Physico-Chymiques
According to Snelders (1980), p.55, this title is a publication of the Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen.
[Univ. Leiden cat.]

1799) - 1808
(Eerste stuk - vierde stuk)

B Natuur-Scheikundige Verhandelingen
According to Snelders (1980), p.69, this title is a publication of the Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen.
Snelders (1980), p.71-72 gives the publication dates of the stukken as follows: 1 (1799), 2 (1799), 3 (1800-1802) and 4 (1808).
[Univ. Leiden cat.]

Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen = Society of Hollandish Chemists
Founding of the Society
Year	Authority / Notes
1790	Snelders (1980), p.13 indicates that the activities of the Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen comprised a period of only over ten years: the circle of friends was founded at the end of 1790 or the beginning of 1791, and carried out its most important chemical experiments up to the beginning of the 19th century. The founders were the merchant Adriaan Paets van Troostwijk (1752-1837) and the physician Jan Rudolph Deiman (1743-1808), with Pieter Nieuwland (1764-1794) and Nicolaas Bondt (1765-1796). After the departure of Nieuwland for Leiden and his sudden death, Anthoni Lauwerenburg (1758-1820) took his place, and after the passing away of Bondt, Gerardus Vrolik (1775-1859) joined. Snelders (1980), p.11 points out that the members of this Society were among the earliest supporters of the new chemical system of Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794). Snelders (1980), later (on p.55), emphasizes the role of two of its members by saying that the Society was founded in Amsterdam by Adriaan Paets van Troostwijk (1752-1837) and Jan Rudolph Deiman (1743-1808) probably around the end of 1790 or the beginning of 1791. He adds that after about 1802 it died a natural death. Snelders (1980), p.55, points out, however, that this was not a true society, but a circle of friends that met irregularly; nor did they have rules and regulations. But scholars outside the country, and especially in France, thought of it as a real society, and bestowed the members of this society with the name Les Chymistes Hollandoises, not realizing that the fruit of their labours came from so few people. The results of their first researches were laid down in their own publication (in the French language) *Recherches Physico-Chimiques, three issues of which appeared between 1792 and 1794. According to Snelders (1980), p.69, in 1799 the Society went on to publish a new journal (this one in the Dutch language) entitled Natuur-Scheikundige Verhandelingen, which published four stukken* (issues) from 1799 to 1808. The titles and dates of the articles in this new journal (and its French language predecessor) are given on pp.71-72 of Snelders (1980). An examination of the latter enumeration indicates that 1799 saw 12 articles published, 1800 saw one, 1801 saw one, 1802 saw one, and 1808 saw one. It should also be noted that the numbering and publication dates of the stukken as follows: 1 (1799), 2 (1799), 3 (1800-1802) and 4 (1808). The decline in publishing from 1800 to 1802 and the six year gap in publishing between 1802 and 1808 partially explains the remark on Snelders (1980), p.55 that after about 1802 the Society died a natural death. On p.101, Snelders (1980) refers to the single article in the 4th stuk (1808) as reporting on an unimportant investigation. Then on p.102, it is noted that in the foreward to that 4th stuk, Paets van Troostwijk, Lauwerenburg, and Vrolik indicate that this stuk (after a six-year gap) was intended to revive the Society to honour their dead friend, Deiman. But Snelders (1980), p.102 remarks that their attempt to revive the Society clearly failed, so that 1802 should be taken as the date of cessation.
Seat of the Society
City	Authority / Notes
Amsterdam Netherlands	This location is supported by Snelders (1980), p.11.
Name of the Society
Dates	Name	Authority
1790 - 1802	*Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen*	Snelders (1980), p.13 gives the name and founding year. Snelders (1980), p.102 argues for this cessation date.
1790 - 1802	*Les Chymistes Hollandoises*	Snelders (1980), p.55 establishes this name among the French.

Journals of the Society
Years	Full Journal Title	Abbrev.	Indexed
1792 - 1794 (Cahier 1 - 3) A	*Recherches Physico-Chymiques* According to Snelders (1980), p.55, this title is a publication of the Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen. [Univ. Leiden cat.]
1799) - 1808 (Eerste stuk - vierde stuk) B	*Natuur-Scheikundige Verhandelingen* According to Snelders (1980), p.69, this title is a publication of the Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen. Snelders (1980), p.71-72 gives the publication dates of the stukken as follows: 1 (1799), 2 (1799), 3 (1800-1802) and 4 (1808). [Univ. Leiden cat.]