Erfgoed Delft

Resistance against church wealth and the moral decay of clergy peaked in the 16th century. For example Martin Luther's demands for church reforms, which the church rejected. Division between supporters and opponents of extensive reform became unavoidable and Protestantism was born. The Reformation was indicative of a movement spreading the new faith. At the Council of Trent (1545-1563) the church in Rome sought to counter this movement with its own policy of reforms, the Counter-Reformation. But these could no longer keep the renegades within the official church. Severe persecution of heretics via the inquisition only served to fuel the spread of fanaticism among pro-reformation groups. The Dutch revolt against Philip II became linked to religion due to his extreme persecution of heretics. The rebels' victory ensured that the protestant church became the state church. Because Protestantism afforded clergy a mere marginal role as link between God and the faithful, there was no place left for convents. In 1572 the States of Holland therefore either confiscated and sold off old Catholic Church assets or let them be used for other purposes. This policy was however also dictated by the need to fund the struggle against the Spanish ruler.