Snouck in Jeddah

Snouck's tutors were European Orientalists, who studied ancient writings in libraries but did not travel to the Arab world or Asia themselves. Snouck decided to take a different approach and to study the Islamic world of his own time himself. He was given the opportunity to do so by the Dutch Consul General in Jeddah, J.A. Kruijt (on the left in the photo), who invited him to come to the Hijaz in 1884 to study pilgrims from the Dutch East Indies who travelled to Mecca. The Dutch government did not support this idea, but private funds made Snouck's trip possible. In Jeddah, Snouck got further help from Vice Consul P.N. van der Chijs (on the right in the photo).

Kruijt, Snouck and Van der Chijs in Jeddah, 1884-1885, inv.nr. Or. 26.404: 1 (cutout)