Dirck Jansz Graeff, also Diederik Jansz Graeff, Lord of the manors Valckeveen and Vredenhof (

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 ...

1532 – 27 July 1589), was a patrician,

wholesaler Wholesaling or distributing is the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers; to industrial, commercial, institutional or other professional business users; or to other wholesalers (wholesale businesses) and related subordinated services. In ...

, shipowner, politician and large landowner. He became an important figure of the

Protestant Reformation The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the papacy and ...

, member of the

Reformed Church Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyterian, ...

, supporter of the

Geuzen ''Geuzen'' (; ; ) was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called ''Watergeuzen'' (; ; ). In the Eigh ...

and the Protestant-minded community of wholesale merchants, and a confidant of

William I of Orange William the Silent or William the Taciturn (; 24 April 153310 July 1584), more commonly known in the Netherlands as William of Orange (), was the leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs that set off the Eighty Years' War (156 ...

(William the Silent).Biography of Dirk Jansz Graeff at ''Biographisch woordenboek der Nederlanden''. Deel 7 (1862)
/ref> Graeff was the founder of a

regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

dynasty of 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 ...

and the short time of the

First Stadtholderless Period The First Stadtholderless Period (1650–72; ) was the period in the history of the Dutch Republic in which the office of Stadtholder was vacant in five of the seven Dutch provinces (the provinces of Friesland and Groningen (province), Groningen, ...

that retained power and influence for centuries and produced a number of ministers. He was the first

Burgomaster Burgomaster (alternatively spelled burgermeister, ) is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief magistrate or executive of a city or town. The name in English was derived from the Dutch . In so ...

of Amsterdam from the De Graeff family.

Family De Graeff

Dirck Jansz Graeffs was the first illustrious member of the

De Graeff De Graeff (; also: '' De Graef'', ''Graef'', ''Graeff'', ''Graaff'', ''Graaf'' and ''De Graeff van Polsbroek'') is a Dutch Nobility, noble family. The family divided into different lines, in Holland, Prussia (Germany) and South Africa including ...

family. His parents were Jan Pietersz Graeff, a cloth wholesaler and advisor of Amsterdam, and ''Stein Braseman''. His older brother was

Lenaert Jansz de Graeff Lenaert Jansz de Graeff, also ''Lena(e)rt Jansz Graeff'', ''Leendert de Graeff'' and ''Leonhard de Graeff'' (Amsterdam, – in Exile, ) belonged to the powerful Amsterdam Patrician (post-Roman Europe), patriciate. He was one of the leaders of th ...

, an important figure of the

in Amsterdam and

privateer A privateer is a private person or vessel which engages in commerce raiding under a commission of war. Since robbery under arms was a common aspect of seaborne trade, until the early 19th century all merchant ships carried arms. A sovereign o ...

and leading captain of the

Sea Beggars ''Geuzen'' (; ; ) was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called ''Watergeuzen'' (; ; ). In the Eigh ...

in the

Capture of Brielle Capture may refer to: Arts and entertainment * "Capture", a song by Simon Townshend * Capture (band), an Australian electronicore band previously known as Capture the Crown * ''Capture'' (TV series), a reality show Television episodes * "Chapter ...

. During the

, the De Graeff family were very critical of the

Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower ** Orange juice *Orange (colour), the color of an orange fruit, occurs between red and yellow in the vi ...

family's influence in the Netherlands. Together with the Republican-minded family Bicker, the De Graeffs strived for the abolition of

stadtholder In the Low Countries, a stadtholder ( ) was a steward, first appointed as a medieval official and ultimately functioning as a national leader. The ''stadtholder'' was the replacement of the duke or count of a province during the Burgundian and ...

ship. They desired the full sovereignty of the individual regions in which the Republic of the United Seven Netherlands were not ruled by a single person. Instead of a sovereign (or stadtholder) the political and military power was lodged with the States General and with the regents of the cities in Holland.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of Dirck Jansz Graeff is divided and shows the following symbols: * field I (left above) shows the silver shovel on red of their paternal ancestors, the

Herren von Graben Herren von Graben, also named ''von (dem) Graben'', ''vom Graben'', ''Grabner'', ''Grabner zu Rosenburg'', ''Graben zu Kornberg'', ''Graben zu Sommeregg'', ''Graben von (zum) Stein'', and ''ab dem Graben'' was the name of an old (Uradel) Austrian ...

* field II (right above) shows the silver swan on blue (

Waterland Waterland () is a List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Netherlands, in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of North Holland. It is situated north of Amsterdam, on the western shore of the Markermeer. It includes t ...

) of their maternal ancestors, the De Grebber. After he has bought the estate Valckeveen (Valkenburg) 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 ...

his coat of arms shows in field II a white falcon on silver instead of the swan. * helmet covers in red and silver * helm adornment shows an upright silver spade with ostrich feathers (Herren von Graben) Ancient coat of arms (De) Graeff, 1543.jpg, Coat of arms Graeff (ancient). The family coat of arms with the silver spade on a red (

Von Graben Herren von Graben, also named ''von (dem) Graben'', ''vom Graben'', ''Grabner'', ''Grabner zu Rosenburg'', ''Graben zu Kornberg'', ''Graben zu Sommeregg'', ''Graben von (zum) Stein'', and ''ab dem Graben'' was the name of an old (Uradel) Austrian ...

) and silver swan on a blue background ( De Grebber) was first documented in 1543 by Jan Pietersz Graeff. Jacob Dircksz de Graeff wapen1.svg, Coat of arms as Lord of the manor of Valckeveen (Valkenburg) Image:Matthias Laurenz Gräff und Karl von Habsburg vor dem Graeff-Wappen.jpg, HIH Archduke Karl of Austria (Karl von Habsburg), head of the House

Habsburg-Lorraine The House of Habsburg-Lorraine () originated from the marriage in 1736 of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, Francis III, Duke of Lorraine and Bar, and Maria Theresa of Habsburg monarchy, Austria, later successively List of Bohemian monarchs, Queen ...

, the former imperial and royal house of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria (right) and

Matthias Laurenz Gräff Matthias Laurenz Gräff (also known as ''Matthias Laurenz Gräff Ilpenstein''; born 19 July 1984) is an Austrian-Greek academic painter, private historian, politician, political activist and co-founder and organizer of the non-partisan platform ...

(left) Image:Grafzerk van Diederik Jansz Graeff.jpg, Epitaph and coat of arms at the Oude kerk (Amsterdam)

Marriage and children

Dirck was first married to Agnies Pietresdr van Neck, daughter of Pieter van Neck. They had the following children: * Weyntje Dircksz (de) Graeff - married to Jacob Andriesz BoelensBiography of Dirk Jansz Graeffs at ''Nieuw Nederlandsch biografisch woordenboek''. Deel 2 (1912)
/ref> * Jan Dircksz Graeff (1560–1630) lived at his Landhouse ''Vredenhof'' near

Voorschoten Voorschoten () is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. It is a smaller town in the Randstad, enclosed by the cities of Leiden, Wassenaar and Leidschendam-Voorburg. The municipality covers an area ...

, died in Loosdrecht, New Hampshire. *

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 ...

(1570–1638) - Regent of Amsterdam, Lord of the semisouveain Lordship Zuid-Polsbroek etc. * Pieter Dircksz Graeff (1573–1645) - since 1620 ''Lord of Engelenburg'', near

Brummen Brummen () is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and a village in the eastern Netherlands. Brummen has a small railway station - Brummen railway station on the line between Zutphen and Arnhem. The village is situated about sout ...

and advisor of the city of Amsterdam. Pieter drives in 1613 to Palestina and visited the Holy Grave in

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

. He lives at the ''Fluweelenburgwal'' at Amsterdam. * Cornelis Dircksz Graeff, alias van Rijn -

schepen A schepen (Dutch, ; . ') or échevin (French, , ) or Schöffe (German, ) is a municipal officer in Belgium and formerly the Netherlands, where it has been replaced by the (a municipal executive). In modern Belgium, the ''schepen'' or ''échevin'' ...

van Dorp; married with N. N. Vercroft (van Crocht), daughter of Jan Claesz Vercroft (van) Crocht (around 1510–1571), schepen and builder in the Duifpolder of

Maasland Maasland (population: 6,844) is a village in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. It lies in the municipality (''gemeente'') of Midden-Delfland and covers an area of 24.42 km2 (of which 0.64 km2 water). It is located ...

; they had a son, Jan Cornelisz (De) Graef(f), married to Neeltgen Cornelisdr; the couple had daughter Neeltgen Jans Vercroft (not Graeff) Afterwards he married to Teuwt Jansdr Cat, daughter of Jan Claesz Cat, burgomaster of Amsterdam. The couple had no progeny.

Life and work

Dirck Jansz Graeff was a merchant, he bought and sold steel at his house ''De Keyser'' in a street, now called

Damrak The Damrak is an avenue and partially filled in canal at the centre of Amsterdam, Netherlands, running between Amsterdam Centraal in the north and Dam Square in the south. It is the main street where people arriving at the station enter the cent ...

. Like his brothers ''Jan'', Lenaert and ''Jacob'', Dirck was one of the richest inhabitants of Amsterdam. In 1564 he was a member of a delegation who spoke with the Spanish

Regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

Margaret of Parma Margaret (; 5 July 1522 – 18 January 1586) was Duchess of Parma from 1547 to 1586 as the wife of Duke Ottavio Farnese and Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands from 1559 to 1567 and from 1578 to 1582. She was the illegitimate daughter of Ch ...

about the political situation in Amsterdam and the province Holland. In 1567 he was against

Charles de Brimeu Charles de Brimeu (1524 or 1525 – 1572 in Zwolle) was the last count of Megen, Meghem, lord of Humbercourt, of Houdain and Éperlecques. He was grandson of Guy of Brimeu, who was beheaded in Ghent. He became the last ceremonial Hereditary Marsha ...

s entry in Amsterdam. In March of that year, backed by the brothers De Graeff and a large part of the bourgeoisie Henry, Count of Bréderode became the ''Generalcaptain'' of the city. In 1566, the Protestant-minded community of patrician and wholesale merchants around Graeff, Jan Jacobsz Bal Huydecoper van Wieringen, Jacobsz Reael, Adriaan Pauw and Cornelis Hooft took over the social leadership within the city of Amsterdam in order to hold it in a political sense after the Alteratie of Amsterdam in 1578. Graeff continued to enjoy the friendship of

, known as William the Silent, whose political motives and goals regarding detachment from Spain and religious freedom he also enjoyed. When the prince paid him a visit in his Amsterdam town house “De Keyser” in the crisis year of 1567, the two discussed the issues of the city and the country. The armchair which was used by Prince William at another visit at Graeffs house was now part of the collection of the

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam The Rijksmuseum () is the national museum of the Netherlands dedicated to Dutch arts and history and is located in Amsterdam. The museum is located at the Museumplein, Museum Square in the stadsdeel, borough of Amsterdam-Zuid, Amsterdam South, ...

. This hooded chair is a unique example of an item of formal furniture from the estate of a late 16th-century Amsterdam burgomaster. Attached to the back of this armchair is a copper plate with the words from

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 ...

"Willem the First, Prince of Orange, set in this chair in 1568 when he stayed with my great-grandfather, Burgomaster Dirk Jansz de Graeff, who then lived in a house called De Keijser by the water." Vredenhof

In Graeff's house, treaties between the leading

Catholics The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

and the

were also made at this. In 1568 the four burgomasters of Amsterdam and the representatives of the religious groups signed a contract there too. In 1568 Graeff belonged to the leading Reformed people. However, since Graeff also conducted many other political consultations, the danger from the Spanish was increasing for him. But it took a long time before he could decide to leave his hometown. In 1572 he had to led to

Emden Emden () is an Independent city (Germany), independent town and seaport in Lower Saxony in the north-west of Germany and lies on the River Ems (river), Ems, close to the Germany–Netherlands border, Netherlands border. It is the main town in t ...

at the arrival of the

Duke of Alba Duke of Alba de Tormes (), commonly known as Duke of Alba, is a title of Spanish nobility that is accompanied by the dignity of Grandee of Spain. In 1472, the title of ''Count of Alba de Tormes'', inherited by García Álvarez de Toledo, wa ...

. In 1576 he came to

Utrecht Utrecht ( ; ; ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city of the Netherlands, as well as the capital and the most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Utrecht (province), Utrecht. The ...

, and worked together with Pieter Pietersz Bicker as a delegate of the Dutch States-General in Hamburg and Bremen, where they were able to take out a loan of 600,000 guilders for the Dutch government. He then spent some time in Hoorn, only to return to his hometown in 1578 - after the "Alteratie van Amsterdam". In the same year, Graeff was appointed Amsterdam's first new burgomaster, also at the request of his friend William of Orange. He also was made

councillor A councillor, alternatively councilman, councilwoman, councilperson, or council member, is someone who sits on, votes in, or is a member of, a council. This is typically an elected representative of an electoral district in a municipal or re ...

of the city, a position which he held until his death in 1589. In the same year, Graeff once again hosted Wilhelm von Orange in his house "De Keyser". Dirck Jansz Graeff was also a wealthy shipowner who was involved in running over 100 merchant ships, using which he traded mainly with Portugal. In the years 1584/1585 he was the richest resident of Amsterdam with a fortune of 140,000

guilder Guilder is the English translation of the Dutch and German ''gulden'', originally shortened from Middle High German ''guldin pfenninc'' (" gold penny"). This was the term that became current in the southern and western parts of the Holy Rom ...

s. He invested his fortune in buying a large country estate called Vredenhof near

. He also owned an estate in

which he named Valkeveen (later the Valckenburg estate) in honor of his Together with Jan Jacobsz Bal Huydecoper van Wieringen, Frans Hendricksz Oetgens van Waveren and Hendrick Hudde, Graeff was considered the largest landowner among the Amsterdam patriciate. Dircks tomb chapel is located in the Oude Kerk at Amsterdam.

Trivia

Dirck Jansz Graeff play a rol in the historic roman ''Krone der Welt'' by Sabine Weiß.''Krone der Welt'' by Sabine Weiß
/ref>

Notes

Literature

* Graeff, P. De (P. de Graeff Gerritsz en

Dirk de Graeff van Polsbroek Jhr. Dirk de Graeff van Polsbroek (born ''Dirk de Graeff''; named also ''Van Polsbroek'' or ''Polsbroek'') (Amsterdam, 28 August 1833 – 27 June 1916, The Hague) was a Dutch aristocrat, merchant and diplomat. Between 1863 and 1868 he was Dutch C ...

) ''Genealogie van de familie De Graeff van Polsbroek'' (Amsterdam, 1882) * Bruijn, J. H. De ''Genealogie van het geslacht De Graeff van Polsbroek 1529/1827'' * Brugmans, Hajo ''Geschiedenis van Amsterdam'' (1973)

External links

* (nl
Biographie of Dirk Jansz. Graeff at the "DBNL", Part II
* (nl
Biographie of Dirk Jansz. Graeff at the "DBNL", Part VII
* (nl

by

Vondel Joost van den Vondel (; 17 November 1587 – 5 February 1679) was a Dutch playwright, poet, literary translator and writer. He is generally regarded as the greatest writer in the Dutch-language literature, Dutch language as well as an important f ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Graeff, Dirk Jansz. Dirk Jansz., Graeff Mayors of Amsterdam 16th-century Dutch businesspeople Nobility from Amsterdam 1532 births 1589 deaths Remonstrants Businesspeople from Amsterdam Dutch people of the Eighty Years' War (United Provinces)