Ferdinand de Boisschot

Chancellor Ferdinand de Boisschot Marquess of Groot-Bijgaarden, Baron of Zaventem
Ferdinand de Boischott (1571-1649), Baron Zaventem (Anthony van Dyck, 1630)
Chancellor of the Duchy of Brabant
In office 1625–1649
Monarch	Philip IV of Spain
Preceded by	Petrus Peckius the Younger
Succeeded by	François de Kinschot
Personal details
Died	24 November 1649 Brussels
Resting place	Notre Dame on the Sablon
Spouse(s)	Anna Maria de Camudio
Alma mater	University of Cologne, University of Leuven
Religion	Roman Catholic

Ferdinand van Boisschot (1560s, Brussels – 24 November 1649, Brussels), Baron of Zaventem, was a Netherlandish jurist and diplomat who became chancellor of the Duchy of Brabant.

Boisschot's father, Jan Baptist van Boisschot, was a member of the Council of Brabant and was killed in the early stages of the Dutch Revolt. His mother took refuge in Cologne, where Ferdinand was raised. He studied law at the University of Cologne and at the University of Leuven.

In 1592 Boisschot was appointed auditor general of the Army of Flanders, a post he held until 1611. From the beginning of 1611 to the end of 1615 he was the diplomatic representative in London of the Sovereign Archdukes Albert and Isabella. In 1615 Philip III of Spain made him a knight in the order of Santiago. He spent a further four years as resident ambassador of the Archdukes in Paris, and was appointed to the Privy Council and the Council of State in Brussels.

In 1621 he was raised to the peerage, being awarded the lordship of Zaventem, and he went on to acquire Fontaine Castle and Groot-Bijgaarden Castle, and the lordships of Nossegem, Sterrebeek and Sint-Stevens-Woluwe. In 1644 he became count of Erps.

He was appointed Chancellor of Brabant, the highest civilian function in the duchy of Brabant, in October 1625, succeeding Petrus Peckius the Younger.