DAF(TRUCKS)

   Automotive factory founded in 1932 by brothers Hu bert Jozef (1900–1972) and Wilhelmus Antonius Vincentius (1906–1978) van Doorne in Eindhoven, the city of Philips Electronics. In 1949, the company’s name was changed from Van Doorne’s Aan hangwagen Fabriek (Van Doorne’s Trailer Factory) into Van Doorne’s Automobiel Fabriek (Van Doorne’s Automobile Factory), both with the abbreviation DAF. The enterprise specialized in trucks, buses, and trailers, but also introduced private cars, especially mod els with the variomatic, an automatic gear change system (in produc tion 1958). The Swedish company Volvo bought DAF’s passenger car division in 1975. After a bankruptcy in 1993, the company continued as DAF Trucks. Since 1996, DAF has belonged to the U.S.-based international truck manufacturer PACCAR. DANCE. Although several religious authorities looked upon dance as a profane activity in former centuries, many international dance styles (from ballroom dance to break dancing) have become popular and are practiced by large numbers of people in the Netherlands. This also applies to Dutch ballet, which has attracted thousands of viewers.The professional Nederlands Dans Theater (Dutch Dance Theater) in The Haguewas formed in 1959 and became famous all over the world because it broke away from more traditional ballet. In particular, choreographers Hans van Manen (1932– ), the Czech Jiri Kilian, and the Englishman Paul Lightfoot introduced new forms of dance. Other Dutch companies include the National Bal let in Amsterdam, with choreographer and author Rudi van Dantzig (1933– ) as its director from 1969 until 1991, the Scapino Ballet in Rotterdam, and Introdans in Arnhem.

   See also Jazz music; Pop music.