The introduction of Calvinism in the emerging Dutch Republic seems to have had little effect on conceptions of morality. Legislation against sex crimes, for example, was little changed. The Reformed ministers were struggling for stricter observance of Calvinist norms of behavior; but in a society in which the Reformed church was not the state religion, the clergy's influence was necessarily less formal and less direct than in England or France. Synods asked for stricter legislation against such vices as inebriety, dancing, theatre, luxury, and other intemperances; but public authorities did not yield to these puritan tendencies. The Calvinist church, though privileged, had to rely on its own methods to induce change in attitudes and behavior of its members. This was effected by means of the discipline (censura morum) exercised by the local consistories and regional synods.

Legislation on moral issues was gradually adapted to Calvinist norms, but this does not necessarily imply that it was stiffened or puritanized. In conformity with Reformed ecclesiastical dogma regarding the nonsacramental character of marriage, divorce was introduced, and civil marriage for dissenters was made a legal option in Holland after 1580. However, divorce was neither advertised nor otherwise promoted. Marriage for life remained the ideal alliance between man and woman.

New “reformed” secular legislation was introduced; but no special attention to sex crimes can be traced. Adultery, prostitution, incest, sodomy, and bestiality continued to be considered particularly heinous crimes; it appears, however, that during the seventeenth century they were not singled out for punishment that was exceptionally severe by the standards of the day, which frequently imposed corporal and capital punishment.