Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek (

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...

, 10 November 1603 ibid 3 or 4 March 1656), was a patrician woman from the

Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age ( ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands which roughly lasted from 1588, when the Dutch Republic was established, to 1672, when the '' Rampjaar'' occurred. During this period, Dutch trade, scientific development ...

. She became known as the mother-in-law of

Johan de Witt Johan de Witt (24 September 1625 – 20 August 1672) was a Dutch statesman and mathematician who was a major political figure during the First Stadtholderless Period, when flourishing global trade in a period of rapid European colonial exp ...

Biography

Agneta was a scion of the De Graeff family and born as the oldest daughter of

Jacob Dircksz de Graeff Jacob Dircksz de Graeff, ''Free and high fief of Zuid-Polsbroek, free lord of Zuid-Polsbroek'' (Emden 1571 – Amsterdam, 6 October 1638) was an illustrious member of the Dutch Republic, Dutch Patrician (post-Roman Europe), patrician De Graeff fam ...

and Aeltje Boelens Loen (1579-1630),Pieter C. Vis: Andries de Graeff (1611–1678) ’t Gezagh is heerelyk: doch vol bekommeringen, p 7
/ref> herself daughter of the politician Cornelis Andriesz Boelens Loen (1552-1584), great-grandson of Andries Boelens (1455–1519), a famous regent of Amsterdam. In 1625 she was married to later Amsterdam burgomaster

Jan Bicker Jan Gerritsz. Bicker (August 1591–May 1653) was a general contractor, shipping magnate, mayor (burgomaster) and a member of the Bicker family, influential regenten from Amsterdam. De Bickers were part of the '' staatsgezinde partij'' (the re ...

. The couple had five daughters: * Elisabeth Bicker (1630–1660) married Jacobus Trip, a wealthy arms dealer * Geertruida Bicker (1634–1702) married Jean Deutz, a rich Banker and Investor of Amsterdam * Wendela Bicker (1635–1668) married

* Cornelia Bicker (1638–1665), married her full cousin Gerard Bicker (I) van Swieten * Jacoba Bicker (1640–1695) married her full cousin

Pieter de Graeff Pieter de Graeff (15 August 1638 – 3 June 1707) was a Dutch Republic, Dutch Aristocracy (class), aristocrat of the Dutch Golden Age and one of the most influential pro-state, republican Amsterdam regenten, Regents during the late 1660s and the ...

The couple lived at their country houses ''De Eult'' at

Baarn Baarn () is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, near Hilversum in the province of Utrecht (province), Utrecht. The municipality of Baarn The municipality of Baarn consists of the following towns: Baarn, Eembrugge, Lage Vuursche. T ...

, ''Akerendam'' and ''Duynwijck'' in

Beverwijk Beverwijk () is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The town is located about northwest of Amsterdam in the Randstad metropolitan area, north of the North Sea Canal very close to the North Sea coast. A ...

. Between the city of Amsterdam they owned a cityhause at

Herengracht The Herengracht () is the second of four Amsterdam canals belonging to the canal belt and lies between the Singel and the Keizersgracht. The Gouden Bocht (Golden Bend) in particular is known for its large and beautiful canal houses. History Th ...

and an island, called Bickerseiland. In 1663/64 Agneta was painted by Wallerant Vaillant.Amsterdams Historisch Museum
Her tomb chapel is located at the

Westerkerk The Westerkerk (; ) is a Calvinism, Reformed church within Protestant Church in the Netherlands, Dutch Protestant Calvinism in central Amsterdam, Netherlands. It lies in the most western part of the Grachtengordel (Amsterdam), Grachtengordel nei ...

Coat of arms

Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek's coat of arms was quartered and showed the following symbols: * field 1 (left above) the silver shovel on a red background of their paternal ancestors, the Herren von Graben * field 2 (right above) it shows a silver falcon on a blue background. The origin of the falcon lies in the possession of the Valckeveen estate (later the Valckenburg estate) in

Gooiland The Gooi ( ) is an area around Hilversum, in the centre of the Netherlands. It is a slightly hilly area characterised by its green landscape, its historical charm, the wealth of its inhabitants and its villas. The Gooi is known in the country a ...

* field 3 (left below), same as field 2 * field 4 (right below), same as field 1 * helmet covers in red and silver * helm adornment shows an upright silver spade with ostrich feathers (Herren von Graben) * motto: MORS SCEPTRA LIGONIBUS AEQUAT (DEATH MAKES SEPTRES AND HOES EQUAL)

References

Literature

* Graeff, P. de (P. de Graeff Gerritsz en Dirk de Graeff van Polsbroek) ''Genealogie van de familie De Graeff van Polsbroek'', Amsterdam 1882. * Bruijn, J. H. de ''Genealogie van het geslacht De Graeff van Polsbroek 1529/1827'', met bijlagen. De Built 1962-63. * Fölting, H.P., 'De landsadvocaten en raadpensionarissen der Staten van Holland en West-Friesland 1480–1795. Een genealogische benadering. Deel III' in: Jaarboek Centraal Bureau Voor Genealogie. Deel 29 (1975 Den Haag; Centraal Bureau Voor Genealogie) p. 210-269, (213) {{DEFAULTSORT:Graeff van Polsbroek, Agneta De Agneta, de Graeff van Polsbroek 17th-century Dutch women Nobility from Amsterdam 1603 births 1656 deaths