Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek (Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...

, 10 November 1603 - 3 or 4 March 1656), was a patrician

Patrician

The term patrician originally referred to a group of elite families in ancient Rome, including both their natural and adopted members. In the late Roman Empire, the class was broadened to include high council officials, and after the fall of the Western Empire it remained a high honorary title in...

 woman from the Dutch Golden Age

Dutch Golden Age

The Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The first half is characterised by the Eighty Years' War till 1648...

. She became famous as the mother-in-law of Johan de Witt

Johan de Witt

Johan de Witt, heer van Zuid- en Noord-Linschoten, Snelrewaard, Hekendorp and IJsselveere was a key figure in Dutch politics in the mid 17th century, when its flourishing sea trade in a period of globalization made the United Provinces a leading European power during the Dutch Golden Age...

.

Agneta was born as the oldest daughter of Jacob Dircksz de Graeff

Jacob Dircksz de Graeff

Jacob Dircksz de Graeff was one of the most illustrious members of the De Graeff family. He was a powerful member of the States Faction, regent and mayor of Amsterdam after the political collapse of Reinier Pauw in 1627.In the mid 17th century, during the Dutch Golden Age, De Graeff controlled...

 and Aeltje Boelens Loen (? - 1620). In 1625 she was married to Jan Bicker

Jan Bicker

Jan Gerritsz. Bicker was a member of the Bicker family, an influential patricianfamily from Amsterdam. The son of Gerrit Bicker, he was a shipbuilder and merchant in Amsterdam. His trade was mainly focussed on the Levant. Jan Bicker was the cities inspector of the ropes, and in 1647 he became...

. The couple had two daughters: Wendela Bicker and Jacoba Bicker; the first married Johan de Witt and the second married her cousin Pieter de Graeff

Pieter de Graeff

Pieter de Graeff , 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 Zuid-Polsbroek and 19.th Lord of the Free and high Fief Ilpendam and Purmerland...

. The couple lived at their country houses De Eult at Baarn

Baarn

Baarn is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht.-The municipality Baarn :The municipality of Baarn consists of the following towns: Baarn, Eembrugge, Lage Vuursche.- The town Baarn :...

, Akerendam and Duynwijck in Beverwijk

Beverwijk

Beverwijk is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The town is located about northwest of Amsterdam in the Randstad metropolitan area, north of the North Sea Canal very close to the North Sea coast...

. Between the city of Amsterdam they owned a cityhause at Herengracht and a island, called Bickerseiland. In 1663/64 Agneta was painted by Wallerant Vaillant

Wallerant Vaillant

Wallerant Vaillant, , was a painter of the Dutch Golden Age and one of the first artists to use the mezzotint technique, which he probably helped to develop.- Biography :...

. Her tomb chapel is located at the Oude Kerk.

Literature

• Graeff, P. de (P. de Graeff Gerritsz en Dirk de Graeff van Polsbroek
  Dirk de Graeff van Polsbroek
  Dirk de Graeff van Polsbroek was a successful Dutch diplomat in Japan. From July 1863, he held the post of Consul General and Political Agent in Japan. He played a major part in the many negotiations between various Western countries and Japan...
  
  ) Genealogie van de familie De Graeff van Polsbroek, Amsterdam 1882.
• Bruijn, J. H. de Genealogie van het geslacht De Graeff van Polsbroek 1529/1827, met bijlagen. De Bilt 1962-63.
• Fölting, H.P., 'De landsadvocaten en raadpensionarissen der Staten van Holland en West-Friesland 1480–1795. Een genealogische benadering. Deel III' in: Jaarboek Centraal Bureau Voor Genealogie. Deel 29 (1975 Den Haag; Centraal Bureau Voor Genealogie) p. 210-269, (213)