The article is devoted to the assessment of the significance of the works of Erasmus of Rotterdam, an outstanding representative of the Dutch literature of the Renaissance. The development of the genre of satire in the literature of the Netherlands in the 16th century is considered on the basis of the satirical work "Praise to Folly" by Erasmus. The writing skills of the talented writer, the clarity of the realistic and democratic direction are analyzed using real examples. By differentiating the ideological direction of his works, the characteristic features in the description of the characters, an attempt to evaluate the critical attitude against the religious-ascetic policy in the literature of that period, which denied the characteristic qualities of the writer, hindered the spirit of nationalism and realistic development in the works, was hostile to nature and human dignity, and did not recognize real life. is done. The article also scientifically assesses the influence of the works of Erasmus of Rotterdam on later medieval literature.