List of people from the Dutch Golden Age

The Dutch Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly equivalent to the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science and art were top ranking in the world until Tulip Mania in 1637 and onwards.

The accompanying article about the Dutch Golden Age focuses on society, religion and culture. There are also articles about the Eighty Years' War (the Dutch revolt against Spain) and the Anglo-Dutch Wars. A concise broader picture is painted in History of the Netherlands.

People are listed here per category in order of year of birth.

Note: Many Dutchmen from this period had a middle name ending in szoon, which means son of. It is also commonly written as sz., for instance Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn.

Sciences and philosophy

Jacob van Langren (c. 1525 – 1610), Dutch cartographer and globe-maker. Carolus Clusius (1526–1609), Flemish doctor and botanist Simon Stevin (1548–1620), Flemish-Dutch mathematician and engineer Cornelis Corneliszoon (1550–ca. 1600), inventor of the wind-powered sawmill Petrus Plancius (1552–1622), Dutch astronomer and cartographer Jodocus Hondius (1563–1612), Flemish-Dutch cartographer Willem Blaeu (1571–1638), Dutch cartographer Jan Leeghwater (1575–1650), hydraulic engineer Willebrord Snellius (1580–1626), Dutch astronomer and mathematician Hugo Grotius (1583–1645), Dutch jurist and philosopher, who laid the foundations for international law Isaac Beeckman (1588–1637), Dutch philosopher David Gorlaeus (1591-1612), Dutch natural philosopher and proponent of atomism Jan Amos Comenius (1592–1670), Czech educator and writer Nicolaes Tulp (1593–1674), doctor, magistrate, and mayor of Amsterdam René Descartes (1596–1650), French philosopher lived in Holland from 1628 to 1649 Joan Blaeu (1596–1673), Dutch cartographer, Willem Blaeu's son Franciscus Sylvius (1614–1672), German-born Dutch physician Frans van Schooten (1615–1660), Dutch mathematician Johannes Phocylides Holwarda (1618-1651), Dutch natural philosopher and proponent of atomism Christiaan Huygens (1629–1695), Dutch mathematician, physicist and astronomer Frederik de Wit (1630–1706), engraver, cartographer and publisher Baruch de Spinoza (1632–1677), Dutch Jewish philosopher John Locke (1632–1704), English philosopher, exiled in Holland (1683–1688) Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723), Dutch scientist and businessman, first microbiologist Jan Swammerdam (1637–1680), Dutch biologist and microscopist Nicolas Steno (1638–1686), Danish Catholic bishop and scientist Frederik Ruysch (1638–1731), Dutch botanist and anatomist Regnier de Graaf (1641–1673), Dutch physician and anatomist Menno van Coehoorn (1641–1704), Dutch military engineer Pierre Bayle (1647–1706), French philosopher and writer Govert Bidloo (1649–1713), physician, anatomist and author who wrote the anatomical atlas Anatomia Humani Corporis Bernard Mandeville (1670–1733), Dutch philosopher, political economist and satirist

Religion Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609), Dutch theologian, served from 1603 as professor in theology at the University of Leiden Gerardus Vossius (1577-1649), Dutch theologian and humanist Gisbertus Voetius (1589-1676), Dutch theologian, served from 1634 as professor in theology at the University of Utrecht. Noted opponent of Cartesianism.

Painting

The best known Dutch painters of the 17th century include: Frans Hals (ca. 1583–1666), portraits, schutterstukken, regent groups, genre pieces (inns, figures) Hendrick Avercamp (1585–1634), landscapes with snow Hendrick Terbruggen (1588–1629), historical and biblical paintings Willem Claeszoon Heda (1594–1680), still lifes Jan van Goyen (1596–1656), landscapes Pieter Jansz Saenredam (1597–1665), church interiors, cityscapes Salomon van Ruysdael (ca. 1600–1670), landscapes Adriaen Brouwer (c. 1605–1638), genre pieces (inns) Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606–1669), historical and biblical paintings, portraits, schutterstukken, regent groups, genre pieces (figures) Jan Lievens (1607–1674), historical and biblical paintings, portraits Adriaen van Ostade (1610–1685), genre scenes of peasant life Willem van de Velde, the elder (ca. 1611–1693), seascapes Bartholomeus van der Helst (1613–1670), portraits, schutterstukken, regent groups Jan Both (1615–1652), Italian landscapes Govert Flinck (1615–1660), historical and biblical paintings, portraits, schutterstukken Ferdinand Bol (1616–1680), historical and biblical paintings Emanuel de Witte (ca. 1617–1692), church interiors Gerard Terborch (1617–1681), portraits, genre pieces (family scenes) Philips Wouwermans (1619–1668), landscapes Aelbert Cuyp (1620–1691), Italian and Dutch landscapes Carel Fabritius (1622–1654), historical and biblical paintings, genre pieces (figures) Paulus Potter (1625–1654), animals in landscapes Jan Steen (1626–1679), genre pieces (inns, family scenes) Jacob Isaakszoon van Ruisdael (c. 1628–1682) Gabriel Metsu (1629–1667), genre pieces (family scenes) Pieter de Hooch (1629–1683), genre pieces (family scenes) Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675), cityscapes, genre pieces (family scenes) Nicolaes Maes (1634–1693), portraits, genre pieces (family scenes, figures) Meindert Hobbema (1638–1709), landscapes

For a more comprehensive listing, see the List of Dutch painters.

Less famous painters from this period were: Cornelis Ketel (1548–1616), portraits, schutterstukken Hendrik Goltzius (1558–1617), landscapes Cornelis Corneliszoon van Haarlem (1562–1638), portraits, historical and biblical paintings Abraham Bloemaert (1566–1651), historical and biblical paintings, landscapes Michiel Janszoon van Miereveld (1567–1641), portraits Johannes Anthoniszoon van Ravesteyn (ca. 1570 – 1657), portraits Ambrosius Bosschaert (1573–1621), flowers Floris Claeszoon van Dijck (1575–1651), still lifes Roelant Savery (1576–1639), landscapes Cornelis van der Voort (1576–1624), portraits, schuttersstukken Jan Pynas (ca. 1580–1633), historical and biblical paintings Pieter Pieterszoon Lastman (1583–1633), historical and biblical paintings Jan Porcellis (1584–1632), sea sights Hercules Seghers (ca. 1589–1638), landscapes Gerhard van Honthorst (1590–1656), historical and biblical paintings, genre pieces (family scenes, figures) Dirck van Baburen (ca. 1590–1624), genre pieces (figures) Cornelis Hendrickszoon Vroom (ca. 1591–1661), sea sights Esayas van der Velde (ca. 1591–1630), landscapes Dirck Hals (1591–1656), genre pieces (family scenes, figures) Willem Pieterszoon Buytewech (ca. 1591–1624), landscapes, genre pieces (figures) Balthasar van der Ast (ca. 1593–1657), flowers Cornelis van Poelenburgh (1594–1667), Italian landscapes Pieter de Molijn (1595–1661), landscapes Thomas de Keyser (ca. 1596–1667), portraits, schutterstukken Johannes Corneliszoon Verspronck (1597–1662), portraits Pieter Claesz (ca. 1597–1660), still lifes Bartholomeus Breenbergh (1599–1657), Italian landscapes Pieter Franszoon de Grebber (c. 1600–1652), historical and biblical paintings Gerrit Hoeckgeest (ca. 1600–1661), church interiors Simon de Vlieger (1601–1653), sea sights Aert van der Neer (1603–1677), sea sights Christiaen van Couwenbergh (1604–1667), historical and biblical paintings Jan Davidszoon de Heem (1606–ca.1683), still lifes Judith Leyster (1609–1660), genre pieces (figures) Hendrik Martenszoon Sorgh (1609/1611–1670) Jan Asselyn (1610–1652), Italian landscapes David Teniers the Younger (1610–1690), genre pieces (inns) Jan Miense Molenaer (ca. 1610–1668), genre pieces (family scenes) Pieter de Ringh (1615–1660), still lifes Caesar van Everdingen (1617–1678), historical and biblical paintings Willem Kalf (1619–1693), still lifes Philips Koninck (1619–1688), landscapes Otto Marseus van Schrieck (c. 1619–1678), flowers Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1621–1683), Italian landscapes Abraham van Beyeren (ca. 1620–1690), still lifes Jan Baptist Weenix (1621–1663), Italian landscapes Gerbrand van den Eeckhout (1621–1674) Karel Dujardin (1622–1678), Italian landscapes Adam Pynacker (1622–1673), Italian landscapes Abraham Danielsz Hondius (c. 1625–1695), dogs, hunting scenes and landscapes Jan van de Cappelle (1626–1679), seascapes Job Adriaenszoon Berckheyde (1630–1693), church interiors Willem Drost (1630–1680), historical and biblical paintings Frederik de Moucheron (1633–1686), Italian landscapes Jan de Baen (1633–1702), portraits Willem van de Velde the younger (1633–1707), sea sights Frans van Mieris sr. (1635–1681), genre pieces (family scenes, figures) Adriaen van de Velde (1636–1672), landscapes Gerrit Adriaenszoon Berckheyde (1636–1698), cityscapes Jan van der Heyden (1637–1712), cityscapes Caspar Netscher (1639–1684), portraits Gerard de Lairesse (1641–1711), historical and biblical paintings Aert de Gelder (1645–1727), historical and biblical paintings Jan van Huysum (1682–1749), flowers

Architecture The most famous Dutch architects of the 17th century were : Lieven de Key (1560–1627), master builder of Haarlem; still used a fair amount of ornamentation, built De Waag (1598), front of the Town Hall (1597), De Vleeshal (1602–1603), New Church tower (1613), all of which are in Haarlem Hendrick de Keyser (1565–1621), preferred a style that was much more sober than his contemporary Lieven de Key, built the Zuiderkerk (1606–1614), the Westerkerk (1620–1638) and the Exchange (1608–1611) in Amsterdam, Town Hall of Delft (1619), several canal houses in Amsterdam (see also section sculpture) Jacob van Campen (1595–1657), embraced classicism fully and served as an example for many colleagues, built the Mauritshuis in The Hague (1635), the Dam Palace in Amsterdam (1648–1655), which was originally the town hall, now a royal palace

Less famous architects from this period were: Hans Vredeman de Vries (1527–1606), architect in Antwerp, used a lot of ornamentation Arent van 's-Gravenzande (..-1662), built De Lakenhal (1639) and the Marekerk (1638–1640), both in Leiden, and the Oostkerk (1646) in Middelburg Philip Vingboons (1607–1678), built many canal houses in Amsterdam in classicistic style Pieter Post (1608–1669), built Huis ten Bosch in The Hague (1645-) Adriaen Dortsman (1625–1682), built the Lutheran Church in Amsterdam Elias Bouman (1636–1686), built the Portuguese-Israelitic Synagogue in Amsterdam (1671/1675) Maurits Post (1645–1677), built Slot Amerongen (1676)

Literature

The most famous Dutch men of letters of the 17th century were: Joost van den Vondel (1587–1679), poet and playwright, who wrote more than 30 plays, many of those based on biblical stories. After The Gijsbrecht (see above) his best known drama is Lucifer (1654). He translated many French, Italian, Latin and Greek works. A recurring theme is man's inner conflicts, on the one hand rebellious, on the other hand pledging obedience to God. Gerbrand Adriaensz. Bredero (1585–1618), poet (sonnets) and dramatist (comedies), his most famous comedy, De Spaanse Brabander (English: The Spanish Brabanter), describes the seamy side of life in Amsterdam Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft (1581–1647), historian, poet and dramatist, who wrote Nederlandsche Historiën (English: Dutch History), which was never completed, but highly valued. His poetry was of high standard as well. He introduced French and Italian lyricism into Dutch poetry. Jacob Cats (1577–1660), poet, famous for his moralistic writings. Houwelijck and Trouringh (English:Marriage and Wedding ring) are two major volumes to educate the Dutch about these serious affairs. Indeed, his all too serious tone, lacking humour and esprit, made him a lesser writer than the three named above, and sometimes the object of mockery. His Kinderen zijn hinderen (English: Children are a nuisance) is still a Dutch saying, often followed by the remark that Cats probably had forgotten that he had been a child himself.

Less famous literary men from this period were: Roemer Visscher (1547–1620), writer of epigrams and emblemata Karel van Mander (1548–1606), wrote the Schilderboeck, a book about painting, and also several biographies about painters