The soft power of neutrality Dutch humanitarianism in World War I, 1914-1918

This article focusses on examples of humanitarian actions by Dutch citizens, organizations or officials and analyses how these actions played a role in the way the Dutch defended their neutrality in 1914-1918. This linked the prime issue of national security - the upkeep of neutrality - closely to both non-governmental and more official initiatives of a humanitarian nature. Making humanitarianism part of national strategy has, in the Dutch case, not been studied in depth yet. This article gives a first overview of the nature and results of the humanitarian activities during the years when a savage war raged very close to the country's borders.