Tachtigers

The movement was based on revolt against what the Tachtigers perceived as the formalistic and overly wrought style of mainstream literature in their day, particularly as favored by the predominant literary journal in Amsterdam, De Gids (The Guide).

For guidance in this effort, they tended to draw inspiration from Shakespeare, and from the then recent Impressionist painters and Naturalist writers.

Two of the founding editors and frequent contributors were the poet and critic Willem Kloos and the poet, novelist, playwright, essayist, and psychiatrist Frederik van Eeden, both of whom are widely regarded today as canonical greats of Dutch literature.

[citation needed] The other three founding editors were F. van der Goes, Willem Paap, and Albert Verwey.

Other prominent Tachtigers whose works appeared in De Nieuwe Gids include the literary critic Lodewijk van Deyssel and the poet Herman Gorter, author of the epic poem Mei, who is probably the most widely read Tachtiger.