Choices and patterns in the history of technology in the Netherlands during the 20th century Techniek in Nederland in de twintigste eeuw (TIN 20) is an impressive work. However, the voluntaristic picture of the modernisation process that it paints requires, in our opinion, some qualification. This essay argues that the authors of TIN-20 have failed to adopt a clear and consistent position on who was making the choices about technological development and how far the key actors really had any room for choice at all. Moreover, when the time frame is extended to include the entire period from c. 1500 onwards, the degree of continuity and repetition in the technological development of the Netherlands turns out to have been higher than the authors of TIN-20 suggest. This review is part of the discussion forum 'Techniek in Nederland in de twintigste eeuw' (J. Schot, H. Lintsen, A. Rip, A. Albert de la Bruhèze).