Why was the relationship between Calvinism and Renaissance humanism difficult for 17th-century Dutch writers?

The relationship between Calvinism and Renaissance humanism was difficult for 17th-century Dutch writers primarily due to the fundamental incompatibility between Calvinistic principles and the ideals of pagan antiquity.1

This dichotomy created a tense ambivalence for many writers who took both their religious faith and their artistic pursuits seriously. While the Renaissance introduced a new focus on classical learning and humanistic expression, the strict religious climate of the time—defined by the Reformation and the theological standards of the Dutch Reformed Church—often clashed with these secular or pagan influences.12

Consequently, writers frequently struggled to reconcile their artistic leanings with their religious convictions. Some, like Daniël Heinsius, navigated this by balancing Latin humanistic plays with devotional vernacular poetry, while others, such as Joost van den Vondel, only resolved the conflict by eventually converting to Roman Catholicism. Even those who remained within the Calvinist tradition, like Constantijn Huygens, had to balance their strict religious principles with the intellectual and aesthetic demands of their literary work.1