Diederik Jansz. Graeff
| Diederik Jansz. Graeff | |
|---|---|
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| Regent and Mayor of Amsterdam | |
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In office 1578 – ? |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1532 Amsterdam |
| Died | July 27, 1589 Amsterdam |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Political party | States Faction |
| Spouse(s) | 1) Agnies Pietresdr van Neck 2) Jan Claes Cat |
| Relations | Admiral Jacob Cornelisz van Neck (distant cousin via Agnies Pietersdr van Neck) |
| Children | Weyntje, Jan (or Johan), Jacob, Pieter, Cornelis |
| Residence | House De Keyser on the Damrak in Amsterdam, country house Vredenhof near Voorschoten |
| Occupation | Mayor |
| Profession | merchant and Ship-owner |
| Religion | Remonstrants |
Diederik Jansz Graeff, also Dirk Jansz Graeff, Lord of the manor Vredenhof (Amsterdam 1532 – Jul 27 1589), first illustrious member of the De Graeff family, was a rich merchant, ship-owner and politician. Diederik Graeff was also the founder of a regent dynastie of the Dutch Golden Age and the short time of the First Stadtholderless Period that retained power and influence for centuries and produced a number of ministers. He was the first Mayor of Amsterdam from the De Graeff family.
During the Dutch Golden Age, the De Graeff family were very critical of the Orange family’s influence in the Netherlands. Together with the Republican-minded family Bicker, the De Graeffs strived for the abolition of stadtholdership. 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. Diederik Jansz.
Graeffs parents were Jan Pietersz Graeff, a rich cloth merchant and advisor of Amsterdam, and Stein Braseman. His older brother was Lenaert Jansz de Graeff, perhaps ident with "Monseigneur de Graeff", a captain of the Sea Beggars in the Capture of Brielle.
Diederiks was a merchant, he bought and sold steel at his house De Keyser in a street, now called Damrak. Like his brothers Jan, Lenaert and Jacob, Diederik was one of the richest inhabitants of Amsterdam. In 1564 Diederik was a member of a delegation who spoke with the Spanish Regent about the political situation in Amsterdam and the province Holland. In 1567 he was against Charles de Brimeus 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.
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