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De Graeff (; also: '' De Graef, Graef, Graeff, Graaff'', Graaf and ''De Graeff van Polsbroek'') is an old Dutch
patrician Patrician may refer to: * Patrician (ancient Rome), the original aristocratic families of ancient Rome, and a synonym for "aristocratic" in modern English usage * Patrician (post-Roman Europe), the governing elites of cities in parts of medieval ...
and
noble A noble is a member of the nobility. Noble may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Noble Glacier, King George Island * Noble Nunatak, Marie Byrd Land * Noble Peak, Wiencke Island * Noble Rocks, Graham Land Australia * Noble Island, Great B ...
family, The
Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
line of the family played an important role during the
Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age ( nl, Gouden Eeuw ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands, roughly spanning the era from 1588 (the birth of the Dutch Republic) to 1672 (the Rampjaar, "Disaster Year"), in which Dutch trade, science, and Dutch art, ...
. They were at the centre of Amsterdam and Holland public life and oligarchy from 1578 until 1672, and belonged to the
Dutch States Party The Dutch States Party ( nl, Staatsgezinde partij) was a political faction of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. This republican faction is usually (negatively) defined as the opponents of the Orangist, or faction, who supported the monar ...
. During that time, members of the De Graeff family were also important patrons of art and artists such as
Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (, ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), usually simply known as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker and draughtsman. An innovative and prolific master in three media, he is generally consid ...
,
Govaert Flinck Govert (or Govaert) Teuniszoon Flinck (25 January 16152 February 1660) was a Dutch painter of the Dutch Golden Age. Life Born at Kleve, capital of the Duchy of Cleves, which was occupied at the time by the United Provinces, he was apprenticed by ...
,
Gerard ter Borch Gerard ter Borch (; December 1617 – 8 December 1681), also known as Gerard Terburg (), was a Dutch genre painter who lived in the Dutch Golden Age. He influenced fellow Dutch painters Gabriel Metsu, Gerrit Dou, Eglon van der Neer and Johanne ...
,
Jacob van Ruisdael Jacob Isaackszoon van Ruisdael (;  1629 – 10 March 1682) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher. He is generally considered the pre-eminent landscape painter of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great wealth and cultural achi ...
,
Caspar Netscher Caspar (or Gaspar) Netscher (1639 – January 15, 1684) was a Dutch portrait and genre painter. He was a master in depicting oriental rugs, silk and brocade and introduced an international style to the Northern Netherlands. Life According to ...
,
Gerard de Lairesse Gerard or Gérard (de) Lairesse (11 September 1641 – June 1711) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and art theorist. His broad range of skills included music, poetry, and theatre. De Lairesse was influenced by the Perugian Cesare Ripa and Fr ...
, Artus Quellinus and
Joost van den Vondel Joost van den Vondel (; 17 November 1587 – 5 February 1679) was a Dutch poet, writer and playwright. He is considered the most prominent Dutch poet and playwright of the 17th century. His plays are the ones from that period that are still most ...
. In 1677 they were made
knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
s of the Holy Roman Empire. Since 1885 that line has been part of the
Dutch nobility The Dutch nobility is a small elite social class constisting of individuals or families recognized as noble, and with or without a title of nobility in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The existence of nobility was established in the Constitution ...
with the
honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...
of
jonkheer (female equivalent: ; french: Écuyer; en, Squire) is an honorific in the Low Countries denoting the lowest rank within the nobility. In the Netherlands, this in general concerns a prefix used by the untitled nobility. In Belgium, this is the ...
.


Origin

According to an unconfirmed family tradition, the family descends from the Austrian Lords
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 Austrian noble fa ...
. Allegedly one
Wolfgang von Graben Wolfgang von Graben, also ''Wolfgang de Groben (de Gröben)'' and ''Wolfgang Grabenski'' (1465 – 11 December 1521) was born in Kornberg castle, Styria and a member of the Austrian nobility. He held the titles as a Lord of Graben, Kornb ...
came 1483 to Holland.Family De Graeff at the ''Nieuw Nederlandsch Biographisch Woordenboek'', part II (dutch)
/ref> It is said that the family was founded by Pieter Graeff (born around 1484) who may lived at the Amsterdam area. He was married to Griet Pietersdr Berents descendant from Wouter Berensz and his wife Dieuwer Willemsz de Grebber, called Berents, of the De Grebber family,
baljuw A bailiff (from Middle English baillif, Old French ''baillis'', ''bail'' "custody") is a manager, overseer or custodian – a legal officer to whom some degree of authority or jurisdiction is given. Bailiffs are of various kinds and their offi ...
s of the
Waterland Waterland () is a municipality in the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland. It is situated north of Amsterdam, on the western shore of the Markermeer. It is well-known for comprising the touristy towns of Broek in Waterland and M ...
, and
Willem Eggert Knight Willem Eggert, (Amsterdam, 1360 - Purmerend, 15 July 1417) was a Dutch politician (stadtholder of Holland), Nobility, noble, banker and schepen of Amsterdam. He owned much land in Weesp, Monnickendam, Oosthuizen, Aalsmeer and Wognum. Bi ...
,
stadtholder In the Low Countries, ''stadtholder'' ( nl, stadhouder ) was an office of steward, designated a medieval official and then a national leader. The ''stadtholder'' was the replacement of the duke or count of a province during the Burgundian and H ...
of Holland. The Berents family belonged to the Amsterdam patriciate and low nobility and inherited the fief Randenbroek (
Amersfoort Amersfoort () is a city and municipality in the province of Utrecht, Netherlands, about 20 km from the city of Utrecht and 40 km south east of Amsterdam. As of 1 December 2021, the municipality had a population of 158,531, making it the second- ...
) from the De Grebber.


Historical and political Legacy

Cornelis de Graeff Cornelis de Graeff, also Cornelis de Graeff van (Zuid-)Polsbroek (15 October 1599 – 4 May 1664) was the most illustrious member of the De Graeff family. He was a mayor of Amsterdam from the Dutch Golden Age and a powerful Amsterdam regent after ...
(1599-1664) said that the ancient Amsterdammers had no habit of keeping genealogical records of their families, and knew no more of their generation than what they have learned from their fathers and grandfathers. The dates of his own family in Amsterdam do not go back very far: ''And first I'll start with the family de Graven from which I descended on my father's side. This is a family from Amsterdam, coming from the house 'de Keijser', that was located at the Waeter (= now
Damrak The Damrak is an avenue and partially filled in canal at the centre of Amsterdam, 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 centre of Amsterdam ...
No. 91). This house shows the impression of its vaulted appearance, owned by Jan Pieters de Graeff, and then by Dirck Jans de Graeff, who also sold this house. My father
Jacob de Graeff Jacob de Graeff (28 June 1642 in Amsterdam – 21 April 1690) was a member of the De Graeff-family from the Dutch Golden Age. He was an Amsterdam Regent and held the titles as 20.th Lord of the Free and high Fief Ilpendam and Purmerland. Jacob ...
and his brothers were also born here.'' The De Graeff family has therefore never boasted about the age of their own family in Amsterdam. But Cornelis and his brother
Andries de Graeff Andries de Graeff (19 February 1611 – 30 November 1678) was a powerful member of the Amsterdam branch of the De Graeff - family during the Dutch Golden Age. He became a mayor of Amsterdam and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the death of his ...
(1611-1678), together with their cousins
Andries Andries is a Dutch and Afrikaans masculine given name or surname equivalent to Andrew. Given name People with this name include * Andries van Artvelt (1590–1652), Flemish painter * Andries Beeckman (1628–1664), Dutch painter * Andries Bekk ...
and
Cornelis Bicker Cornelis Bicker van Swieten (25 October 1592 – 15 September 1654), heer (lord) Van Swieten and of Kasteel Swieten, was an Amsterdam regenten, regent of the Dutch Republic during the Dutch Golden Age, Golden Age and a governor of the Dutch West I ...
, saw themselves as the political heirs of the old regent family Boelens, whose main lineage, which had remained catholic, had died out in the male line in 1647. They had received the very significant first names ''Andries'' and ''Cornelis'' from their Boelens ancestors. As in a real dynasty, members of the two families frequently intermarried in the 17th century in order to keep their political and commercial capital together. Its great historical ancestor was
Andries Boelens Andries Boelens (Amsterdam, 1455 – there, 1519), also: ''Boelenz'', ''Boelensz., Andries Boel Dircksz.'' or ''Andries Boelen Dircksz'', was an alderman and mayor of Amsterdam. In the period from 1496 to 1517 he was mayor fifteen times. The ter ...
(1455-1519), the city's most influential medieval mayor. Both families, Bicker and De Graeff, descend in the female line from Boelens. He was allowed to hold the highest office in Amsterdam fifteen times.


Progenitor Pieter Graeff

Pieter Graeff was probably born around 1484. His alleged father Wolfgang von Graben (1465-1521) was recorded in Holland in 1483, and that he had Pieter as a son. It cannot be determined whether Pieter was born in Amsterdam. Biographical cornerstones of his life cannot be determined, but it is reported that he married Griet Pieters(dr) Berents in 1512, a woman whose family came from the patriciate of Amsterdam and the low nobility of the area. She may was a daughter of Berend Berends, in 1509 advisor of Amsterdam, himself a son or second line descendant (grandson, nephew) of Jan Berents, Lord of Randenbroek (Amersfoort), the son of Wouter Berensz and his wife Dieuwer Willemsdr de Grebber (born around 1385 or later), called Berents, of the De Grebber family, baljuws of the Waterland. The Berents family inherited the fief Randenbroek from the De Grebber. Griet Pietersdr Berents came from the female line of this family, and through the marriage of her ancestor Willem Grebber Jonge Willem Grebberszoon (born around 1362–1434; father of Dieuwer Willemsdr de Grebber) to Lijsbeth Willemsdr Eggert (born around 1390 or later; also named Imme Eggert), she was also a descendant of Lijsbeths father Willem Eggert (1360-1417), stadholder of Holland. Pieter and Griet had one son, Jan Pietersz Graeff, who continued the family line in Amsterdam. His coat of arms from 1542 or 1543 shows the shovel of the Von Graben and the swan of the De Grebber family. About the family crest of Pieter's wife Griet: Jan Berents, Lord of Randenbroek, the ancestor of Griet Pietersdr Berents, had a coat of arms which hangs in a chapel in the Nieuwe Kerk of Amsterdam. It shows a quartered shield with the arms of the Berents, De Grebber, Eggert and Boel (Boelens Loen). During the 15th and 16th centuries, these families were at the head of the Amsterdam patriciate and, with the exception of the Boelens, belonged to the knightly nobility.


Family lines

# Amsterdam line (so called ''main line'', includes the Free Lords of Polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam) ## Alblasserdam line ### Lines at Alkmaar, Leiden and Delft #### Illegitimate Line 'Graeff'De Neederlandse Leeuw, 1898, Genealogie van het geslacht "De Graeff", p 131
/ref> ### (?) Line in Prussia
/ref> ## South African line (founded in 1850) ## The Hague line (since 19th century)


Amsterdam line


Beginning

Pieter's line was continued by his only known son, Jan Pietersz Graeff (before 1512–1553). It is known that he lived in Amsterdam in the "Huis De Keyser" (named after the "Keizerskroon" attached outside the building) on the Damrak. There he ran a flourishing cloth trade. In 1542 he became a
councilor A councillor is an elected representative for a local government council in some countries. Canada Due to the control that the provinces have over their municipal governments, terms that councillors serve vary from province to province. Unl ...
and in 1543 he was appointed
alderman An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many Jurisdiction, jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council membe ...
(Schepen) of Amsterdam. Due to its political activities, the De Graeff family is one of the few
patrician Patrician may refer to: * Patrician (ancient Rome), the original aristocratic families of ancient Rome, and a synonym for "aristocratic" in modern English usage * Patrician (post-Roman Europe), the governing elites of cities in parts of medieval ...
families to sit in government before and after the Amsterdam
Alteratie The Alteratie (Eng: Alteration) is the name given to the change of power in Amsterdam on May 26, 1578, when the Catholic city government was deposed in favor of a Protestant one. The coup should be seen in the context of the greater Dutch Revolt th ...
of 1578. Jan Pietersz Graeff had five sons. The second-born
Lenaert Jansz de Graeff Lenaert Jansz de Graeff (Amsterdam, – in Exile, ) belonged to the powerful Amsterdam patriciate. He was one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation at Amsterdam, vice-general-captain of Amsterdam, friend of Henry, Count of Bréderode, the ...
was a leading member of the Amsterdam
Reformed Church Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Cal ...
, and involved in the religious liberation struggle of the Netherlands in the 1560s and 1570s;Lenaert Jansz de Graeff
in der ''DBNL''
on the one hand he was one of the military and religious leaders of Amsterdam under his friend Hendrick von Brederode and probably as "Monseigneur de Graeff" captain of the
watergeus Geuzen (; ; french: Les Gueux) 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 (; ; frenc ...
who were involved in the
Capture of Brielle The Capture of Brielle by the ''Geuzen, Watergeuzen'', on 1 April 1572 marked a turning point in the uprising of the Seventeen Provinces, Low Countries against Spain in the Eighty Years' War. Militarily the success was minor as the port of Briell ...
in 1572.De Graeff ''(Monseigneur de Graeff van Brugge)'' at „DBNL“
/ref> In recent historical books, De Graeff is treated as one of the leaders of the Sea beggars. His character was also used in a historical novel about ''De Grote Geus''. His third son
Dirck Jansz Graeff Dirck Jansz Graeff, also Diederik Jansz Graeff, Lord of the manors Valckeveen and Voorschoten, Vredenhof (Amsterdam 1532 – 27 July 1589), was a Patrician (post-Roman Europe), patrician, wholesaler, shipowner, politician and large landowner. ...
(1532-1589) continued the main line of the family in Amsterdam. As governing mayor of Amsterdam and friend of
William I of Orange William the Silent (24 April 153310 July 1584), also known as William the Taciturn (translated from nl, Willem de Zwijger), or, more commonly in the Netherlands, William of Orange ( nl, Willem van Oranje), was the main leader of the Dutch Rev ...
(William the Silent), he was able to lay the foundation for the family's political and social influence in Amsterdam. Dirk Jansz was one of the emigrants who fled to
Emden Emden () is an independent city and seaport in Lower Saxony in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia and, in 2011, had a total population of 51,528. History The exact founding date of E ...
from the Spanish army under the
Duke of Alba Duke of Alba de Tormes ( es, Duque de 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 G ...
. After his return, Dirck Jansz had shares in over 100 merchant ships. In the years 1584/1585 he was the richest resident of Amsterdam with a fortune of 140,000 guilders.


Dutch Golden Age

During the
Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age ( nl, Gouden Eeuw ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands, roughly spanning the era from 1588 (the birth of the Dutch Republic) to 1672 (the Rampjaar, "Disaster Year"), in which Dutch trade, science, and Dutch art, ...
, the De Graeff family was critical of the influence of the
House of Orange The House of Orange-Nassau (Dutch language, Dutch: ''Huis van Oranje-Nassau'', ) is the current dynasty, reigning house of the Netherlands. A branch of the European House of Nassau, the house has played a central role in the Politics and governm ...
. the De Graeffs belonged to the
republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
political movement of the
Regenten In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the regenten (the Dutch plural for ''regent'') were the rulers of the Dutch Republic, the leaders of the Dutch cities or the heads of organisations (e.g. "regent of an orphanage"). Though not formally a heredi ...
, also referred to as the ‘state oriented’, as opposed to the
Royalist A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of governme ...
s. Together with the Republican political leaders, the
Bicker family Bicker (also: Bicker van Swieten and Bicker Caarten) is a very old Dutch patrician family (''since 1390''). The family has played an important role during the Dutch Golden Age. They were at the centre of Amsterdam oligarchy from the beginning of ...
and Grand Pensionary
Johan de Witt Johan de Witt (; 24 September 1625 – 20 August 1672), ''lord of Zuid- en Noord-Linschoten, Snelrewaard, Hekendorp en IJsselvere'', was a Dutch statesman and a major political figure in the Dutch Republic in the mid-17th century, the Fi ...
, the republican-minded
Jacob Dircksz de Graeff Jacob Dircksz de Graeff, '' free lord of Zuid-Polsbroek'' (Emden 1571 – Amsterdam, 6 October 1638) was an illustrious member of the patrician De Graeff family. He was a powerful politician of the States Faction, regent and mayor of Amsterdam ...
(son of Dirck Jansz Graeff) and his sons
Cornelis Cornelis is a Dutch language, Dutch form of the male given name Cornelius (name), Cornelius. Some common shortened versions of Cornelis in Dutch are Cees, Cor, Corné, Corneel, Crelis, Kees (given name), Kees, Neel and Nelis. Cornelis (Kees) an ...
and
Andries de Graeff Andries de Graeff (19 February 1611 – 30 November 1678) was a powerful member of the Amsterdam branch of the De Graeff - family during the Dutch Golden Age. He became a mayor of Amsterdam and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the death of his ...
strived for the abolition of
stadtholder In the Low Countries, ''stadtholder'' ( nl, stadhouder ) was an office of steward, designated a medieval official and then a national leader. The ''stadtholder'' was the replacement of the duke or count of a province during the Burgundian and H ...
ship. They desired the full sovereignty of the individual regions in a form in which the Republic of the United Seven Netherlands was 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. The De Graeff and Bicker families, for example, tried to imitate the centralistic, autocratic style of government of the Florentine
Medici The House of Medici ( , ) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici, in the Republic of Florence during the first half of the 15th century. The family originated in the Muge ...
. The Dutch historian and archivist Bas Dudok van Heel said about the power of families like that of de Graeff and Bicker: ''In Florence, families like Bicker and De Graeff would have been uncrowned princes''. During the two decades from the 1650 to the 1670s the De Graeff family had a leading role in the
Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
administration, the city was at the peak of its political power. This period was also referred to by Republicans as the ‘Ware Vrijheid’ (True Freedom). It was the
First Stadtholderless Period The First Stadtholderless Period or Era (1650–72; nl, Eerste Stadhouderloze Tijdperk) is 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 Fries ...
which lasted from 1650 to 1672 during these twenty years, the regents from Holland and in particular those of Amsterdam, controlled the republic. The city was flush with self-confidence and liked to compare itself to the famous Republic of Rome. Even without a stadtholder, things seemed to be going well for the Republic and its regents both politically and economically. In early 1671, Andries de Graeff was once again put forward as chief-mayor (regent) and managed to gain control with his Republican faction. During the winter of that year it seemed as if – at least in Amsterdam – the Republicans were winning. It was an exceptionally opportune moment to commission a monumental ceiling painting on Amsterdam's independent position for the ‘Sael’ of his mayor's residence. De Graeff had a clear message in mind for the ceiling painting: the ‘Ware Vrijheid’ of the Republic was only protected by the Republican regents of Amsterdam. The paintings by
Gerard de Lairesse Gerard or Gérard (de) Lairesse (11 September 1641 – June 1711) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and art theorist. His broad range of skills included music, poetry, and theatre. De Lairesse was influenced by the Perugian Cesare Ripa and Fr ...
glorify the de Graeff family's role as the protector of the Republican state, defender of ‘Freedom’. The work of art can be viewed as a visual statement opposing the return of House of Orange as Stadtholders of the republic. In
Rampjaar In Dutch history, the year 1672 is referred to as the nl, Rampjaar, label=none (Disaster Year). In May 1672, following the outbreak of the Franco-Dutch War and its peripheral conflict the Third Anglo-Dutch War, France, supported by Münster an ...
1672, when the Orangists took power again, the De Graeffs lost their position as one of the key States party families.


= Patrons of the arts

= Throughout the Dutch Golden Age, the family sponsored art and architecture, and were responsible for the majority of Amsterdam art.
Andries de Graeff Andries de Graeff (19 February 1611 – 30 November 1678) was a powerful member of the Amsterdam branch of the De Graeff - family during the Dutch Golden Age. He became a mayor of Amsterdam and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the death of his ...
, the first patron of the arts in the family, aided
Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (, ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), usually simply known as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker and draughtsman. An innovative and prolific master in three media, he is generally consid ...
and, together with his brother
Cornelis de Graeff Cornelis de Graeff, also Cornelis de Graeff van (Zuid-)Polsbroek (15 October 1599 – 4 May 1664) was the most illustrious member of the De Graeff family. He was a mayor of Amsterdam from the Dutch Golden Age and a powerful Amsterdam regent after ...
, commissioned
Govert Flinck Govert (or Govaert) Teuniszoon Flinck (25 January 16152 February 1660) was a Dutch painter of the Dutch Golden Age. Life Born at Kleve, capital of the Duchy of Cleves, which was occupied at the time by the United Provinces, he was apprenticed by ...
, Artus Quellinus and
Jacob Jordaens Jacob (Jacques) Jordaens (19 May 1593 – 18 October 1678) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and tapestry designer known for his history paintings, genre scenes and portraits. After Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck, he was the leading Fle ...
for the construction of the city hall on the Dam in 1655. Andries de Graeff's other notable artistic associates included
Gerard ter Borch Gerard ter Borch (; December 1617 – 8 December 1681), also known as Gerard Terburg (), was a Dutch genre painter who lived in the Dutch Golden Age. He influenced fellow Dutch painters Gabriel Metsu, Gerrit Dou, Eglon van der Neer and Johanne ...
, Flinck, and
Jan Lievens Jan Lievens (24 October 1607 – 4 June 1674) was a Dutch Golden Age painter who was associated with his close contemporary Rembrandt, a year older, in the early parts of their careers. They shared a birthplace in Leiden, training with Pieter L ...
. Andries' brother Cornelis continued in the family tradition of patronizing artists, commissioning works from
Jacob van Ruisdael Jacob Isaackszoon van Ruisdael (;  1629 – 10 March 1682) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher. He is generally considered the pre-eminent landscape painter of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great wealth and cultural achi ...
,
Nicolaes Eliaszoon Pickenoy Nicolaes Eliaszoon Pickenoy (10 January 1588 – 1653/1656) was a Dutch painter of Flemish origin. Pickenoy was possibly a pupil of Cornelis van der Voort and presumably Bartholomeus van der Helst was his own pupil. Life He was the son ...
, Quellinus, Flinck and
Caspar Netscher Caspar (or Gaspar) Netscher (1639 – January 15, 1684) was a Dutch portrait and genre painter. He was a master in depicting oriental rugs, silk and brocade and introduced an international style to the Northern Netherlands. Life According to ...
. The family were also patrons of the poets
Joost van den Vondel Joost van den Vondel (; 17 November 1587 – 5 February 1679) was a Dutch poet, writer and playwright. He is considered the most prominent Dutch poet and playwright of the 17th century. His plays are the ones from that period that are still most ...
,
Jan Vos Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to: Acronyms * Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN * Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code * Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group * Japanese Article Numbe ...
,
Caspar Barlaeus Caspar Barlaeus (February 12, 1584 – January 14, 1648) was a Dutch polymath and Renaissance humanist, a theologian, poet, and historian. Life Born Caspar (Kaspar) van Baerle in Antwerp, Barlaeus' parents fled the city when it was occupied by Spa ...
und
Gerard Brandt Gerard Brandt (25 July 1626, Amsterdam – 12 October 1685, Amsterdam) was a Dutch preacher, playwright, poet, church historian, biographer and naval historian. A well-known writer in his own time, his works include a ''Life of Michiel de Ruy ...
. In 1660 Andries and his brother Cornelis de Graeff organized the
Dutch Gift The Dutch Gift of 1660 was a collection of 24 mostly Italian Renaissance paintings, four by Dutch Masters, and twelve classical sculptures. The gift was presented to newly-restored King Charles II of England on 16 November by envoys of the St ...
, a collection of 28 mostly Italian Renaissance paintings and 12 classical sculptures, which was presented to
King Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of King of England, England, Scotland and King of Ireland, Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II ...
by the States-General of the Netherlands in 1660. The gift was made to mark his return to power in the
English Restoration The Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in the kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland took place in 1660 when King Charles II returned from exile in continental Europe. The preceding period of the Protectorate and the civil wars came to be ...
. The De Graeffs intended to strengthen diplomatic relations between England and the Republic, but only a few years after the gift the two nations would be at war again in the
Second Anglo-Dutch War The Second Anglo-Dutch War or the Second Dutch War (4 March 1665 – 31 July 1667; nl, Tweede Engelse Oorlog "Second English War") was a conflict between Kingdom of England, England and the Dutch Republic partly for control over the seas a ...
of 1665–67. Cornelis' son
Pieter de Graeff Pieter de Graeff (15 August 1638 – 3 June 1707), was a member of the De Graeff-family from the Dutch Golden Age. He was an Amsterdam Regent during the late 1660s and the early 1670s, and held the titles as Lord of the semi-sovereign Fief Zui ...
was also a man who surrounded himself with art and beauty. He was an art collector and patron to the artists Ter Borch, Lievens,
Karel Dujardin Karel Dujardin (September 27, 1626November 20, 1678) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Although he did a few portraits and a few history paintings of religious subjects, most of his work is small Italianate landscape scenes with animals and peasan ...
,
Romeyn de Hooghe Romeyn de Hooghe (bapt. 10 September 1645 – 10 June 1708) was a late Dutch Baroque painter, sculptor, engraver and caricaturist. Biography He was born in Amsterdam, and was a skilled etcher, draughtsman, painter, sculptor and medalist. ...
, Netscher and the poet Van den Vondel. Prof. C.W. Fock of the
University of Leiden Leiden University (abbreviated as ''LEI''; nl, Universiteit Leiden) is a public research university in Leiden, Netherlands. The university was founded as a Protestant university in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, as a reward to the city of Le ...
describes his art collection and lifestyle in her work ''Het stempel van de bewoner''.


After the Golden Age

After the Amsterdam family De Graeff had lost their political importance in
Rampjaar In Dutch history, the year 1672 is referred to as the nl, Rampjaar, label=none (Disaster Year). In May 1672, following the outbreak of the Franco-Dutch War and its peripheral conflict the Third Anglo-Dutch War, France, supported by Münster an ...
1672, they were only able to establish themselves to a limited extent in Amsterdam and Dutch politics. During the 18th century, three more family members where part of the City administration, namely Johan de Graeff (1673-1714), Gerrit de Graeff (1711-1752) and Gerrit II de Graeff van Zuid-Polsbroek (1741-1811). During the 19th century the last one and his grandson, the manufacturer Gerrit IV de Graeff (1797–1870), where part of the Amsterdam government. In the 20th century, the family had completely disappeared from city politics, and the Hague Line had taken over the family's political and social leadership.


Nobility

In 1677,
Andries de Graeff Andries de Graeff (19 February 1611 – 30 November 1678) was a powerful member of the Amsterdam branch of the De Graeff - family during the Dutch Golden Age. He became a mayor of Amsterdam and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the death of his ...
and his only son,
Cornelis Cornelis is a Dutch language, Dutch form of the male given name Cornelius (name), Cornelius. Some common shortened versions of Cornelis in Dutch are Cees, Cor, Corné, Corneel, Crelis, Kees (given name), Kees, Neel and Nelis. Cornelis (Kees) an ...
, became a
knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
of the
Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
. They traced their descent from
Wolfgang von Graben Wolfgang von Graben, also ''Wolfgang de Groben (de Gröben)'' and ''Wolfgang Grabenski'' (1465 – 11 December 1521) was born in Kornberg castle, Styria and a member of the Austrian nobility. He held the titles as a Lord of Graben, Kornb ...
, member of the
Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
n noble
House of Graben von Stein 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 Austrian noble fam ...
, which was an apparent (or
illegitimate Legitimacy, in traditional Western common law, is the status of a child born to parents who are legally married to each other, and of a child conceived before the parents obtain a legal divorce. Conversely, ''illegitimacy'', also known as ''b ...
) branch of the House of Meinhardin. Diplom loaned to Mr. Andries de Graeff,
Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...
, July 19, 1677:
Fide digis itegur genealogistarum Amsteldamensium edocti testimoniis te Andream de Graeff ndries de Graeffnon paternum solum ex pervetusta in Comitatu nostro Tyrolensi von Graben dicta familia originem ducere, qua olim per quendam ex ascendentibus tuis ejus nominis in Belgium traducta et in Petrum de Graeff ieter Graeff abavum, Johannem an Pietersz Graeff proavum, Theodorum irck Jansz Graeff avum, ac tandem Jacobum acob Dircksz de Graeff patrem tuum, viros in civitate, Amstelodamensi continua serie consulatum scabinatus senatorii ordinis dignitabitus conspicuos et in publicum bene semper meritos propagata nobiliter et cum splendore inter suos se semper gessaerit interque alios honores praerogativasque nobilibus eo locorum proprias liberum venandi jus in Hollandia, Frisiaque occidentale ac Ultrajectina provinciis habuerit semper et exercuerit.
This title only existed for one year, since both title holders died in the following year. When the Kingdom of the United Netherlands was established in 1815, the De Graeff family received no recognition or elevation to the new Dutch nobility, as Dutch historian and archivist Bas Dudok van Heel put it this way: ''In
Florence Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...
families like Bicker and De Graeff would have been uncrowned princes. Here, in 1815, they should at least have been raised to the rank of count, but the southern Dutch nobility would not have put up with that. What you got here remained nothing half and nothing whole.'' In 1885
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 ...
received the new Dutch nobility with the predicate
Jonkheer (female equivalent: ; french: Écuyer; en, Squire) is an honorific in the Low Countries denoting the lowest rank within the nobility. In the Netherlands, this in general concerns a prefix used by the untitled nobility. In Belgium, this is the ...
for himself and his descendants.Nederland’s Patriciaat, Jahrgang 2, 1911, p 171 This noble branch still flourishes today.


Feudality

Like many other Dutch patrician families, the De Graeffs endeavored to adopt the way of life and the social appearance of the old dutch nobility and to be recognized by them as equals. Among other things, the acquisition of feudal manorial estates, so-called heerlijkheid, served to justify such claims. which in the Netherlands were also associated with their own jurisdiction. In the case of "lower fiefs" (''lage heerlijkheiden'' or '' Ambachtsheerlijkheid''), this was the lower jurisdiction, while the landlord of a "free" or "high fief" also had
high jurisdiction High, middle and low justices are notions dating from Western feudalism to indicate descending degrees of judicial power to administer justice by the maximal punishment the holders could inflict upon their subjects and other dependents. Low just ...
(blood court).
Jacob Dircksz de Graeff Jacob Dircksz de Graeff, '' free lord of Zuid-Polsbroek'' (Emden 1571 – Amsterdam, 6 October 1638) was an illustrious member of the patrician De Graeff family. He was a powerful politician of the States Faction, regent and mayor of Amsterdam ...
was one of the first Dutch regents to come into possession of such grandeur. In 1610 he bought the Free and high fief of Zuid-Polsbroek (''hoge of vrije heerlijkheid Zuid-Polsbroek'') for himself and his family from Charles de Ligne, prince Aremberg, which at that time was no longer a fiefdom but was freely inheritable and sellable as an allod property. Their acquisition increased the reputation and contributed to the aristocratization of the family, in which De Graeff and his heirs could be addressed as '' Vrijheer(en) van Zuid-Polsbroek'' ever since. Furthermore, in 1678 his grandson
Jacob de Graeff Jacob de Graeff (28 June 1642 in Amsterdam – 21 April 1690) was a member of the De Graeff-family from the Dutch Golden Age. He was an Amsterdam Regent and held the titles as 20.th Lord of the Free and high Fief Ilpendam and Purmerland. Jacob ...
inherited the Free or high Lordship of Purmerland and Ilpendam (''hoge heerlijkheid van Purmerland en Ilpendam''). The mansions of Zuid-Polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam were owned by the De Graeff family until 1870. Furthermore, Pieter Dircksz Graeff (1573-1645) owned the Lordship of Engelenburg. The siblings Alida (1651-1738) and Arnoldina de Graeff (1652-1703) had been vrijvrouwen of the Free and High Lordship Jaarsveld during the 17th and 18th century. Likewise, the De Graeff family held Ambachtsheerlijkheiden as fiefdoms of the city of Amsterdam during the 17th century;
Amstelveen Amstelveen () is a municipality in the province of North Holland, Netherlands with a population of 92.353 as of 2022. It is a suburban part of the Amsterdam metropolitan area. The municipality of Amstelveen consists of the historical villages o ...
,
Nieuwer-Amstel Amstelveen () is a municipality in the province of North Holland, Netherlands with a population of 92.353 as of 2022. It is a suburban part of the Amsterdam metropolitan area. The municipality of Amstelveen consists of the historical villages o ...
, Sloten, Sloterdijk and
Osdorp Osdorp () is neighbourhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands. A larger area was, from 1981 until 2010, a ''stadsdeel'' (borough) of Amsterdam and in 2010 was merged into the new borough of Amsterdam Nieuw-West. Neighborhood The core neighborhood of Osdor ...
,
Urk Urk () is a municipality and a town in the Flevoland province in the central Netherlands. Urk is first mentioned in historical records dating to the 10th century, when it was still an island in the Zuiderzee, an inland sea that would become part ...
and
Emmeloord Emmeloord is the administrative centre of the municipality of Noordoostpolder, Flevoland, Netherlands. In 2019, it had a population of 26,055. Overview At the heart of the Noordoostpolder, where the three main drainage canals Lemstervaart, Urk ...
. The family had lands and feudal rights in the southern part of Netelenburg, in Duinen in North Holland, in Cromwyk and Hoog Rietveld near
Woerden Woerden () is a city and a municipality in central Netherlands. Due to its central location between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht, and the fact that it has rail and road connections to those cities, it is a popular town for commu ...
, near Langerak and on the river
Lek Lek or LEK may refer to: * Lek mating, mating in a lek, a type of animal territory in which males of a species gather * Albanian lek, the currency of Albania * Lek (magazine), a Norwegian softcore pornographic magazine * Lek (pharmaceutical comp ...
, the extensive country estates Vredenhof near
Voorschoten Voorschoten () is a village 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 The Hague. The municipality covers an area of of whi ...
and Valckeveen (Valkenburg), the later Graeffenveld near Oud-Naarden. Furthermore the held Land in De Graskamp and grounds in
Soestdijk Soestdijk () is a neighbourhood of Soest and a hamlet in the municipality of Baarn. Both are part of the province of Utrecht, Netherlands. The village gives its name to Paleis Soestdijk, which from 1937 to 2004 was the residence of Princess and ...
,
Soestdijk Palace Soestdijk Palace ( nl, Paleis Soestdijk ) is a palace formerly belonging to the House of Orange-Nassau, Dutch Royal Family. It consists of a central block and two wings. Although named after the village of Soestdijk, which is largely in the munic ...
, and
Baarn Baarn () is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, near Hilversum in the province of Utrecht. The municipality of Baarn The municipality of Baarn consists of the following towns: Baarn, Eembrugge, Lage Vuursche. The town of Baarn Ba ...
.


Coat of arms

The ancient Graeff coat of arms shows the shovel from 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 Austrian noble fam ...
and the swan from the De Grebber family from
Waterland Waterland () is a municipality in the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland. It is situated north of Amsterdam, on the western shore of the Markermeer. It is well-known for comprising the touristy towns of Broek in Waterland and M ...
(county of Holland). The inheritance of the Graben coat of arms is based on the (assumed) male descent of the Graeff-ancestor Pieter Graeff (born around 1484) from
Wolfgang von Graben Wolfgang von Graben, also ''Wolfgang de Groben (de Gröben)'' and ''Wolfgang Grabenski'' (1465 – 11 December 1521) was born in Kornberg castle, Styria and a member of the Austrian nobility. He held the titles as a Lord of Graben, Kornb ...
. The inheritance of the Grebber coat of arms on the female lineage of Pieter's wife Griet Pietersdr Berents of the 'Berents-De Grebber line'. Symbols of the coat of arms: * Shovel: Von Graben * Swan: De Grebber and the 2nd one since the earlier 17th century stands for the Fief of Vredenhof * Falcon: Fief of Valkenburg (Valckeveen) * Rhombus: High Lordship of Zuid-Polsbroek * Goose: High Lordship of Purmerland * Lion: High Lordship of Ilpendam Coat of arms Family Graeff (ancient).jpg, Ancient coat of arms, first reported in 1542 or 1543 (shovel and swan) File:Coat of arms Graeff (Dirk Jansz Graeff).jpg, alt=Coat of arms as Lord of the manor of Valckeveen (Valkenburg), Coat of arms, end of the 16th century (shovel and falcon) Wapen De Graeff van Polsbroek als heren van Purmerland en Ilpendam.jpg, Full coat of arms as Lords of Zuid-Polsbroek, 1610–1870 (shovel, swan resp goose and rhombus) Wapen van De Graeff (II).jpg, Coat of arms Imperial knights, 1677 (shovel and swan) Wappen von Pieter de Graeff um 1690.jpg, Full coat of arms as Lords of Zuid-Polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam, 1610/1678–1870 (shovel, swan, goose, lion and rhombus) De Graeff wapen.svg, Coat of arms as Jonkheers De Graeff, 1885 (shovel and swan) Matthias Laurenz Gräff und Karl von Habsburg vor dem Graeff-Wappen.jpg,
Matthias Laurenz Gräff Matthias Laurenz Gräff (also known as ''Matthias Laurenz Gräff Ilpenstein''; born 19 July 1984) is an Austrian academic painter, private historian, politician, political activist and organizer of the non-partisan platform Dialog im Kamptal f ...
and
Karl von Habsburg Karl von Habsburg (given names: ''Karl Thomas Robert Maria Franziskus Georg Bahnam''; born 11 January 1961) is an Austrian politician and the head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, therefore being a claimant to the defunct Austro-Hungarian t ...
, head of the House
Habsburg-Lorraine The House of Habsburg-Lorraine (german: Haus Habsburg-Lothringen) originated from the marriage in 1736 of Francis III, Duke of Lorraine and Bar, and Maria Theresa of Austria, later successively Queen of Bohemia, Queen of Hungary, Queen of Cr ...
, the former imperial and royal house of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria


= Coat of arms Pieter de Graeff

= The coat of arms of
Pieter de Graeff Pieter de Graeff (15 August 1638 – 3 June 1707), was a member of the De Graeff-family from the Dutch Golden Age. He was an Amsterdam Regent during the late 1660s and the early 1670s, and held the titles as Lord of the semi-sovereign Fief Zui ...
(1638-1707) is quartered with a heart shield and since 1678 it shows the following symbols: * heart shield shows the three silver rhombuses on red (originally from the family
Van Woerdern van Vliet A van is a type of road vehicle used for transporting goods or people. Depending on the type of van, it can be bigger or smaller than a pickup truck and SUV, and bigger than a common car. There is some varying in the scope of the word across th ...
) of the High Lordship Zuid-Polsbroek * field 1 (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 Austrian noble fam ...
* field 2 (right above) shows the silver swan on blue of the Fief Vredenhof or that one (
Waterland Waterland () is a municipality in the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland. It is situated north of Amsterdam, on the western shore of the Markermeer. It is well-known for comprising the touristy towns of Broek in Waterland and M ...
) of one of their maternal ancestors, the De Grebber * field 3 (left below) shows the silver goose in blue of
Purmerland Purmerland () is a village of 395 (January 2007) in the municipality of Landsmeer, North Holland, the Netherlands. It is located just north of Den Ilp and just south of the housing estate of Weidevenne, part of the city of Purmerend. It is directl ...
( High Lordship Purmerland and Ilpendam) * field 4 (right below) shows the red and black lions on gold (the arms of the
County of Holland The County of Holland was a State of the Holy Roman Empire and from 1433 part of the Burgundian Netherlands, from 1482 part of the Habsburg Netherlands and from 1581 onward the leading province of the Dutch Republic, of which it remained a part ...
) for
Ilpendam Ilpendam is a village in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. It is a part of the municipality of Waterland, and lies about 4 km south of Purmerend. It covers an area of 2.46 km2 (0.95 sq mi) and had 1,780 inhabitants in 2008. Ilp ...
(High Lordship Purmerland and Ilpendam) above a blue area * shield holders are two silver swans * 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)


Other Dutch lines

Secondary lines split off from Jacob Jansz Graeff († ca. 1580), the youngest son of Jan Pietersz Graeff. These lived in the cities of
Alblasserdam Alblasserdam () is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. It covers an area of , of which is water, and has a population of as of . Alblasserdam is officially a part of the Drechtsteden region. A po ...
,
Alkmaar Alkmaar () is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland, about 30 km north of Amsterdam. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination. The ...
,
Leiden Leiden (; in English and archaic Dutch also Leyden) is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The municipality of Leiden has a population of 119,713, but the city forms one densely connected agglomeration wit ...
and
Delft Delft () is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of South Holland, Netherlands. It is located between Rotterdam, to the southeast, ...
, but could not gain influence like those who remained in Amsterdam. The best-known member was the Dutch Rear Admiral Albert Claesz de Graeff, a great-grandson of Jacob Jansz Graeff. It is not known whether there are still male descendants from these branches today. There are also descendants of Jacob Jansz Graeff's († ca. 1580) illegitimate son Adriaan Jacobsz Graeff, but nothing further is known about their life.


Old German Empire

According to the Rietstap Armorial Général, the (De) Graeff coat of arms was also used by bearers in former Prussia (Germany) as Graaff (de), Prusse - Orig. de Hollande (also spelled de Graaf), but these are not chronologically identifiable. The coat of arms is described in the original as follows: ''Graaff (de) Prusse - Orig. de Hollande - Écartelé aux 1 et 4 de gueules à une bêche d'argent le fer en haut aux 2 et 3 d'azur à un cygne d'argent Cimier la bêche sommée de trois plumes de paon au naturel Lambrequin d'argent et de gueules''. Since the blazon next to the spade describes a swan nd not a goose which the De Graeff's used from 1655 to 1678 as (Vrij)heeren van Purmerland en Ilpendam instead of the swan it is probably a descent from the Amsterdam lineage before a separation of their property in 1638 (the death of
Jacob Dircksz de Graeff Jacob Dircksz de Graeff, '' free lord of Zuid-Polsbroek'' (Emden 1571 – Amsterdam, 6 October 1638) was an illustrious member of the patrician De Graeff family. He was a powerful politician of the States Faction, regent and mayor of Amsterdam ...
). Since the Amsterdam line consists of identifiable members throughout, they are probably descendants of a family member of that line from the second half of the 16th century.


South African line

The lineage in South Africa descends from Gerrit Arnold Theodoor de Graeff (b. 1831), a brother of
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 ...
. This line is still thriving today.


The Hague line

Other lines and branches, also from the Amsterdam main line, are scattered throughout the Netherlands, such as
The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...
line. This came from the important diplomat
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 ...
(1833-1916). In 1885 he received the new Dutch nobility with the predicate
Jonkheer (female equivalent: ; french: Écuyer; en, Squire) is an honorific in the Low Countries denoting the lowest rank within the nobility. In the Netherlands, this in general concerns a prefix used by the untitled nobility. In Belgium, this is the ...
for himself and his descendants. This noble branch still flourishes today. Dirk's son was
Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff Jhr. Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff (7 August 1872 – 24 April 1957) was a Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies and a Dutch minister for foreign affairs. Family Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff was a descendant of the De Graeff-fami ...
, diplomat, minister and governor-general, who was able to continue the politically committed and successful tradition of his family in the 20th century. Various family members were also active in engineering, in the water authorities, as state inspectors and commissioners, directors, in court service at the Dutch royal court and as financial and company managers. Representatives of this are
Dirk Georg de Graeff A dirk is a long bladed thrusting dagger.Chisholm, Hugh (ed.), ''Dagger'', The Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed., Vol. VII, New York, NY: Cambridge University Press (1910), p. 729 Historically, it gained its name from the Highland Dirk (Scot ...
and Jan Jaap de Graeff.


Nobility

Some members of the line at The Hague belonged to the New Dutch nobility. In 1885
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 ...
, originally from the Amsterdam branch, received the predicate
Jonkheer (female equivalent: ; french: Écuyer; en, Squire) is an honorific in the Low Countries denoting the lowest rank within the nobility. In the Netherlands, this in general concerns a prefix used by the untitled nobility. In Belgium, this is the ...
for himself and his descendants.Nederland’s Patriciaat, Jahrgang 2, 1911, p 171 This noble branch, descendanted from Dirk, still flourishes today.


Family members (selection)

* Pieter Graeff (born around 1484), it is said that he was a son of
Wolfgang von Graben Wolfgang von Graben, also ''Wolfgang de Groben (de Gröben)'' and ''Wolfgang Grabenski'' (1465 – 11 December 1521) was born in Kornberg castle, Styria and a member of the Austrian nobility. He held the titles as a Lord of Graben, Kornb ...
(1465-1521) → Amsterdam line ** Jan Pietersz Graeff (1512–1553), member of the
vroedschap The vroedschap () was the name for the (all male) city council in the early modern Netherlands; the member of such a council was called a ''vroedman'', literally a "wise man". An honorific title of the ''vroedschap'' was the ''vroede vaderen'', ...
and advisor of Amsterdam, cloth merchant and dealer ***
Lenaert Jansz de Graeff Lenaert Jansz de Graeff (Amsterdam, – in Exile, ) belonged to the powerful Amsterdam patriciate. He was one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation at Amsterdam, vice-general-captain of Amsterdam, friend of Henry, Count of Bréderode, the ...
(1530–35 - before 1578), one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation at Amsterdam, friend of the "Grote Geus"
Henry, Count of Bréderode Henry (Hendrik), Lord of Bréderode (December 1531 – 15 February 1568) was a member of the Dutch noble family Van Brederode and an important member during the Eighty Years' War. He was named the "Grote Geus" or the "big beggar". Biography ...
; Lenaert Jansz de Graeff could be ident with "Monseigneur de Graeff", a captain of the Sea Beggars during the Capture of Brielle. *** Diederik Jansz. Graeff (1532–1589), mayor of Amsterdam, merchant; Graeff was also a friend of
William the Silent William the Silent (24 April 153310 July 1584), also known as William the Taciturn (translated from nl, Willem de Zwijger), or, more commonly in the Netherlands, William of Orange ( nl, Willem van Oranje), was the main leader of the Dutch Re ...
, Prince of Orange. ****
Jacob Dircksz de Graeff Jacob Dircksz de Graeff, '' free lord of Zuid-Polsbroek'' (Emden 1571 – Amsterdam, 6 October 1638) was an illustrious member of the patrician De Graeff family. He was a powerful politician of the States Faction, regent and mayor of Amsterdam ...
(1570–1638), was an illustrious member of the De Graeff family; regent and mayor of Amsterdam, lord of the semisouverain fief Zuid-polsbroek, lord of the manor of Sloten, Osdorp and Amstelveen. *****
Cornelis de Graeff Cornelis de Graeff, also Cornelis de Graeff van (Zuid-)Polsbroek (15 October 1599 – 4 May 1664) was the most illustrious member of the De Graeff family. He was a mayor of Amsterdam from the Dutch Golden Age and a powerful Amsterdam regent after ...
(1599–1664), was the most illustrious member of the De Graeff family; regent and mayor of Amsterdam, lord of the semi-sovereign fief Zuid-polsbroek, lord of the manor of Sloten and Amstelveen, President of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC); illustrious Patron and Art collector. ******
Pieter de Graeff Pieter de Graeff (15 August 1638 – 3 June 1707), was a member of the De Graeff-family from the Dutch Golden Age. He was an Amsterdam Regent during the late 1660s and the early 1670s, and held the titles as Lord of the semi-sovereign Fief Zui ...
(1638–1707), regent of Amsterdam, lord of the semi-sovereign fiefs of Zuid-polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam, President or Chairman of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC), friend, advicor to his cousin Johan de Witt. *******
Cornelis de Graeff II. Cornelis de Graeff (23 August 1671, Amsterdam – 16 February 1719, Ilpendam) was a member of the family De Graeff, a prominent regent family from the Dutch Golden Age. He hold the title 20st Free Lord of Purmerland and Ilpendam. Biography ...
(1671–1719), lord of the semi-sovereign fief Purmerland and Ilpendam. ******* Johan de Graeff (1673–1714), advisor of Amsterdam, lord of the semi-sovereign fief Zuid-polsbroek. ********
Gerrit de Graeff (I.) van Zuid-Polsbroek Gerrit de Graeff (I.) van Zuid-Polsbroek (27 February 1711 in Amsterdam – 10 November 1752) was a member of the De Graeff – Family from the Dutch Golden Age. De Graeff was "known for his wealth and notorious for his stinginess." House at Heren ...
(1711–1752), regent of Amsterdam, lord of the semi-sovereign fiefs of Zuid-polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam, one of the Chairmen of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) and the Dutch West Indies Company (WIC). ********* Joan de Graeff (1735-1754), lord of the (semi-sovereign) fief of Zuid-PolsbroekDe Nederlandsche leeuw: Maandblad van het Koninklijk Genealogisch-Heraldiek Genootschap, Bände 1895-1900, p 139
/ref> *********
Gerrit de Graeff II. Gerrit de Graeff (II) van Zuid-Polsbroek (23 December 1741 in Amsterdam – 20 December 1811 at Ilpenstein Castle, Ilpenstein) was a Dutch Republic, Dutch politician at local and national Level during the Patriottentijd and afterwards. He belonged ...
(1741–1811), regent of Amsterdam, lord of the (semi-sovereign) fiefs of Zuid-polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam. **********
Gerrit de Graeff (III.) van Zuid-Polsbroek Gerrit de Graeff, ''vrijheer van Zuid-Polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam'' (24 February 1766, Amsterdam – 16 December 1814) was a member of the influential De Graeff family of Amsterdam. He belonged to the patrician class of the city and hel ...
(1766–1814), lord of the fiefs of Zuid-polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam. ***********
Gerrit de Graeff (IV.) van Zuid-Polsbroek Gerrit de Graeff (IV), ''vrijheer van Zuid-Polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam'' (26 July 1797, Ilpendam – 27 March 1870) was a Dutch patrician. Life Gerrit de Graeff was a scion of the De Graeff family and a son of Gerrit de Graeff (III ...
(1797–1870), lord of the fiefs of Zuid-polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam, advisor of the city of Amsterdam. ************ ''Gerrit Arnold Theodoor de Graeff'' (born 1831) → South African line ************* Henry George de Graeff van Polsbroek (1858–1941) ************
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 ...
(1833–1916), Diplomat, Generalconsul and Dutch minister in Japan. He was the most important representative of the Dutch government and played a major part in the many negotiations between Japan and various Western countries. De Graeff van Polsbroek was advisor to Japanese
Emperor Meiji , also called or , was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. Reigning from 13 February 1867 to his death, he was the first monarch of the Empire of Japan and presided over the Meiji era. He was the figur ...
and laid the foundation stone for a modern western (European) diplomacy in Japan. → The Hague line *************
Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff Jhr. Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff (7 August 1872 – 24 April 1957) was a Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies and a Dutch minister for foreign affairs. Family Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff was a descendant of the De Graeff-fami ...
(1872–1958), Governor General of Dutch East Indies, Dutch minister for foreign affairs. ************** ''Jacob de Graeff'' (born 1921) *************** Jan Jaap de Graeff (born 1949), dijkgraaf of Schieland, chamberlain of the Dutch queen, director of the Dutch unie for water ************* ''Géorg de Graeff'' (1873–1954) **************
Dirk Georg de Graeff A dirk is a long bladed thrusting dagger.Chisholm, Hugh (ed.), ''Dagger'', The Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed., Vol. VII, New York, NY: Cambridge University Press (1910), p. 729 Historically, it gained its name from the Highland Dirk (Scot ...
(1905–1986), chamberlain of the Dutch queens and managing director from the Algemene Bank Nederland ************** Herman Jacob de Graeff (1907-1978) *************** Egbert de Graeff (1936–2017), Dutch field hockey player ******
Jacob de Graeff Jacob de Graeff (28 June 1642 in Amsterdam – 21 April 1690) was a member of the De Graeff-family from the Dutch Golden Age. He was an Amsterdam Regent and held the titles as 20.th Lord of the Free and high Fief Ilpendam and Purmerland. Jacob ...
(1642–1690), advisor of Amsterdam, lord of the semi-sovereign fief Purmerland and Ilpendam. ***** Dirk de Graeff (1601–1637), advisor of Amsterdam *****
Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek (Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population of 907,976 wit ...
(1603–1656), mother of
Wendela Bicker Wendela Bicker (Amsterdam, baptized 30 December 1635 – 1 July 1668) was the wife of Johan de Witt. She was one of the richest young female commoners of her time and she married one of the most influential republican politicians in the Netherl ...
and mother in law of
Johan de Witt Johan de Witt (; 24 September 1625 – 20 August 1672), ''lord of Zuid- en Noord-Linschoten, Snelrewaard, Hekendorp en IJsselvere'', was a Dutch statesman and a major political figure in the Dutch Republic in the mid-17th century, the Fi ...
. *****
Wendela de Graeff Vendela is a feminine given name. It may refer to: * Wendla Åberg (1791–1864), Swedish dancer * Wendela Hebbe, Swedish journalist * Vendela Kirsebom, Turkish-Norwegian-Swedish model and actress * Vendela Skytte, Swedish poet * Wendela Gustafva ...
(1607–1652), painted by
Rembrandt van Rijn Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (, ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), usually simply known as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker and draughtsman. An innovative and prolific master in three media, he is generally consid ...
at his masterpiece Jacob Blessing the Children of Joseph *****
Andries de Graeff Andries de Graeff (19 February 1611 – 30 November 1678) was a powerful member of the Amsterdam branch of the De Graeff - family during the Dutch Golden Age. He became a mayor of Amsterdam and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the death of his ...
(1611–1678), had together with his brother Cornelis the leading role in the Amsterdam and Holland administration; minister of finances, regent and mayor of Amsterdam, lord of the manor of Urk and Emmeloord; illustrious Patron and Art collector. ****** Cornelis HrR Ridder de Graeff (1650–1678), free imperial knight of the Holy Roman Empire, chieflandholder of the Zijpe and Haze Polder. **** Pieter Dircksz Graeff (1573–1645), lord of Engelenburg, member of the vroedschap of Amsterdam, visited the
Holy Sepulchre The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, hy, Սուրբ Հարության տաճար, la, Ecclesia Sancti Sepulchri, am, የቅዱስ መቃብር ቤተክርስቲያን, he, כנסיית הקבר, ar, كنيسة القيامة is a church i ...
in
Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
. *** ''Jacob Jansz Graeff'' (died ca 1580) → Ablasserdam line **** Jan Jacobsz Graeff (born ca 1570–75) ***** ''Claes Jansz Graeff'' ****** Albert Claesz de Graeff (born around 1620), Dutch Admiral (
Schout-bij-nacht () is a Dutch Naval rank, with a NATO rank of OF-7. The ' was responsible for ensuring that fleet continued to sail in the prescribed order at night. The title comes from the title of the officer who replaced the admiral at night and was therefo ...
)


See also

* De Graeff family tree * Semisouverain fief of Zuid-Polsbroek * Fief of Purmerend, Purmerland and Ilpendam * Ilpenstein Castle * Herengracht 573 *
Soestdijk Palace Soestdijk Palace ( nl, Paleis Soestdijk ) is a palace formerly belonging to the House of Orange-Nassau, Dutch Royal Family. It consists of a central block and two wings. Although named after the village of Soestdijk, which is largely in the munic ...


Notes


Literature

* Bruijn, J. H. De. ''Genealogie van het geslacht De Graeff van Polsbroek 1529/1827''. * Burke, P. (1994). ''Venice and Amsterdam: A Study of Seventeenth-Century Élites''. * 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. * Israel, Jonathan I. (1995). ''The Dutch Republic: Its Rise, Greatness, and Fall 1477–1806''. Clarendon Press, Oxford, * Rowen, Herbert H. (1986). ''John de Witt" Statesman of the "True Freedom"''. Cambridge University Press, * Zandvliet, Kees. ''De 250 rijksten van de Gouden Eeuw - Kapitaal, macht, familie en levensstijl'' (2006 Amsterdam; Nieuw Amsterdam Uitgevers)


External links


"Genealogie van het geslacht 'de Graeff' door W. H. Croockewit" (Family tree of the De Graeff family) at: De Nederlandsche leeuw: tijdschrift van het Koninklijk Nederlandsch Genootschap voor Geslacht- en Wapenkunde (1895-1900).
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graeff, de Dutch noble families Dutch families Dutch patrician families