In retrospect, even beginning to write this book was pure folly. When I applied to a position at the Netherlands Institute for War Documentation in 2001, I and others were surprised they hired me, an aspiring medievalist, to study the Second World War. I was, and am, very happy with this remarkable decision, but it did mean I embarked on this project, the first book-length academic work of my life, with only a dim knowledge of the period which I was to study. Overcoming this problem would not have been possible without the support and help of the Institute's knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff. Not only, moreover, did I find a source of nigh unlimited knowledge of the Second World War, I also found a friendly work environment, where I have come to feel very much at home.

My task was not, however, to remain in the comfortable surroundings of the Institute's palazzo on the Herengracht, but to venture out into Europe, and do internationally comparative research. Moreover, I was to be trained to become a full-fledged economic historian. This training I found primarily in the Posthumus Institute, and its European counterpart, the ester network. I am much indebted to all those who attended our sessions, but especially to Herman de Jong, Jan Pieter Smits, Brigitte Widdershoven and Patrick O’Brien, who provided me with extensive advice and friendly encouragement. I also learned a great deal through the Economic History Society, the annual conferences of which proved both good fun and highly educational, and which organised the excellent Residential Training Course in Manchester, in the closing weeks of 2002. A final phase of my postgraduate education took place at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, where Deirdre McCloskey introduced a small group of graduate students to the mysteries of ethics, microeconomics and the work of Adam Smith. Those who were there will have no difficulty recognising the many instances where our discussions inspired me in writing, albeit about a seemingly different subject.

I eventually decided to focus on Denmark and the Netherlands as the two countries to be compared in this study. The fact that I did not speak or understand Danish proved less of a hindrance than I had initially feared.