Some Dog Fanciers still remember Olde Cornelis. His nickname was “Kees.” Perhaps he wasn’t a champion of the underdog, but he had a dog that followed him everywhere. A later revolution against the House of Orange elevated Kees to the status of martyr to the cause, and dogs of the same breeds became very popular.
Today, the breed is called “Keeshond” in the AKC registry, which translates to “Kees’ dog.” Pronounced “Cayz-hond” following the Dutch. The breed is also known as the “Dutch Barge Dog.” An image of the dog appears on the Netherlands’ national flag.