This Dutch postage stamp was printed
on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam (Free University Amsterdam). The years represented
are 1880-1980.
The free University of Amsterdam is the
only Protestant University in the Netherlands. It was founded
by a group of Orthodox Protestants led by Abraham Kuyper.
Abraham Kuyper was the first founder of a political party
in the Netherlands, the ARP. He contributed to the formation
of the reformed churches in the Netherlands and he was Prime
Minister from 1901 to 1905. The word "free" in the
official name of the University refers to it being free from
interference of either Church or State. Twelve faculties offer
courses within the University: Earth and life sciences, Dentistry,
Movement Sciences, Economics and Business Administration,
Exact Sciences, Medicine (absorbed into VU Medical Center),
Theology, Literature, Psychology and Pedagogy, Law, Social
Sciences and Philosophy. The faculty of medicine also has
its own University Hospital.
Left hand side: picture of Mr. Abraham Kuyper / right
hand side: image of the virgin in the garden - a symbolism
for piety and wisdom. Above her is the tetragrammaton within
a radiating sun - the Hebrew characters JHWH standing for
God's name.
Detail where God's name is seen more clearly
...
- we already show a publication from Mr.
Abraham Kuyper (1908) on our page "Books" - Click
here
- we have seen the image of the Virgin before on
a bull issued by the University - Click
here
