Felix Ortt

Born in Groningen into a strict Protestant family, Ortt followed the family's tradition by studying civil engineering at Delft University of Technology and working for the Dutch water management authority, Rijkswaterstaat. However, a bout of malaria in 1890 led him to explore natural medicine, which inspired him to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. In 1894, he co-founded the Dutch Vegetarian Association.^[1]

Ortt's engagement with social activism deepened after encountering the works of Leo Tolstoy at a temperance congress in 1896. Inspired by Tolstoy's ideals of nonviolence and Christian teachings, Ortt became increasingly disillusioned with government service and resigned from Rijkswaterstaat in 1899. He soon left the Dutch Reformed Church and immersed himself in promoting Christian anarchism, editing the publication Vrede, which became an important platform for advocating nonviolence, simplicity, and ethical living. This period marked his transition from an engineer to a dedicated social reformer, focusing on issues of wealth inequality, compassion, and spiritual integrity.^[1]

In 1900, Ortt co-founded a Christian anarchist commune near Blaricum, attempting to create a community based on the teachings of Jesus, with an emphasis on nonviolence, vegetarianism, and simplicity. The commune included a horticultural group, a printing press, and a bakery, but internal disputes over religious interpretations eventually led to its dissolution in 1903. Despite this setback, Ortt documented the experience in his novel series Felicia and continued his activism by writing and editing publications that disseminated his ideas on humanitarianism, ethics, and social justice.^[1]

Ortt also became an active member of the Rein Leven-Beweging ("Pure Life Movement"), which focused on promoting spiritual purity, sexual ethics, and moral conduct. His writings on love, marriage, and sexuality often sparked debates and controversy, especially due to his support for more progressive ideas on free marriage. Despite facing criticism from more conservative members, he remained committed to advocating for a lifestyle aligned with spiritual and ethical ideals, contributing significantly to the intellectual and moral discussions of his time.^[1]

Ortt married three times. In 1892 he married Anna Petronella Gelderman, with whom he had three children before their marriage ended in divorce in 1905. Later that year, he entered a free marriage with Tine Hinlopen, with whom he had three more children. In 1932, he married Maria Theresia Zeijlemaker, the head of a children's home.^[1]

Ortt translated several works by American zoologist J. Howard Moore into Dutch.^[2] During World War I, Ortt was a conscientious objector. In World War II, he aided refugees in Soest.^[3] Ortt continued to publish writings on vegetarianism, spirituality, and parapsychology well into his later years. He died in Soest in 1959.^[1]

A retirement home for vegetarians was named "Felix Ortt" in Oosterbeek.^[1]

Ortt was a prolific writer and published many works:^[1]

• Christelijk anarchisme ("Christian Anarchism"; Haarlem, 1898)
• Het beginsel der liefde ("The Principle of Love"; The Hague, 1898)
• Naar het groote licht ("Towards the Great Light"; The Hague, 1899)
• Open brief aan de presidente van den Nederlandschen Vrouwenbond ter Internationale Ontwapening ("Open Letter to the President of the Dutch Women's Union for International Disarmament"; Amsterdam, 1899)
• Het spiritisme ("Spiritism"; The Hague, 1899)
• Denkbeelden van een christen-anarchist ("Thoughts of a Christian Anarchist"; The Hague, 1900)
• Medische wetenschap en vivisectie ("Medical Science and Vivisection"; The Hague, 1902)
• Brieven over gezondheid (in het bijzonder tot arbeiders) ("Letters about Health (especially to workers)"; Blaricum, 1902)
• Praktisch socialisme ("Practical Socialism"; Amersfoort, 1903)
• Het streven der christen-anarchisten ("The Aspiration of the Christian Anarchists"; Amersfoort, 1903)
• Rein leven en Geheelonthouding ("Pure Life and Total Abstinence"; Soest, 1903)
• Manifest van het Landelijk Comité Zaak-Terwey. Waar het om gaat en wat onze plicht is ("Manifest of the National Committee Case-Terwey. What It's About and What Our Duty Is"; z.pl., 1903)
• Aan mijn zusje – brief over het geslachtsleven ("To My Little Sister – A Letter about Sexual Life"; Amersfoort, 1903)
• Het Nieuw-Malthusianisme. Uit ethisch oogpunt beschouwd ("Neo-Malthusianism. Considered from an Ethical Point of View"; Amersfoort, 1904)
• Sexueele ethiek ("Sexual Ethics"; Amersfoort, 1904)
• De Vrije Mensch: studies ("The Free Human: Studies"; Amersfoort, 1904)
• Een zedelijke plicht der ouders. (Rede) ("A Moral Duty of Parents. (Speech)"; The Hague, 1905)
• Apen en menschen ("Apes and Humans"; The Hague, 1907)
• De reinleven-beweging. Ontstaan, doel, beginselen en organisatie der rein levenbeweging. Kort uiteengezet ("The Pure Life Movement. Origin, Purpose, Principles, and Organization of the Pure Life Movement. Briefly Explained"; z.pl., 1908)
• Brieven over Godsgeloof. Verkorte volksuitgave der 'Brieven aan een vriendinnetje over religieuze begrippen' ("Letters about Faith in God. Abbreviated Popular Edition of 'Letters to a Little Friend about Religious Concepts'"; Blaricum, 1909)
• Drankzucht en hoe die tegen te gaan ("Alcoholism and How to Combat It"; z.pl., 1911)
• Het dure vleesch ("The Expensive Meat"; z.pl., 1913)
• De invloed van den oorlog op de ethiek ("The Influence of the War on Ethics"; Purmerend, 1916)
• Inleiding tot het pneumatisch-energetisch monisme. Een beschouwing over God, de wereld, het leven, mensch en maatschappij, vanuit het standpunt der natuurwetenschap ("Introduction to Pneumatic-Energetic Monism. A Consideration of God, the World, Life, Human and Society, from the Perspective of Natural Science"; The Hague, 1917)
• Tweede brief aan mijn zusje. Over verloving en huwelijk ("Second Letter to My Little Sister. About Engagement and Marriage"; Soest, 1921)
• Over kunst en schoonheid ("About Art and Beauty"; Blaricum, 1921)
• De koepokinenting ("The Smallpox Vaccination"; Hilversum, 1927)
• Nieuwe beschouwingen over den droom en de droompsyche ("New Considerations about the Dream and the Dream Psyche"; Amsterdam, 1927)
• Het wezen der homeopatische geneeswijze ("The Nature of Homeopathic Medicine"; Hilversum, 1930)
• Over de dierenziel ("About the Animal Soul"; The Hague, 1933)
• Verleden, heden en toekomst der natuurgeneeswijze ("Past, Present, and Future of Naturopathy"; Soest, 1939)
• Levenshouding ("Attitude to Life"; z.pl., 1942)
• De superkosmos. Filosofie van het occultisme en het spiritisme ("The Super Cosmos. Philosophy of Occultism and Spiritism"; The Hague, 1949)
• Het droomleven ("The Dream Life"; The Hague, 1951)
• Over Frederik van Eeden ("About Frederik van Eeden"; Amsterdam, 1958)

• Vegetarianism in the Netherlands

• Author page at the Digital Library for Dutch Literature