Alteratie
Encyclopedia
The Alteratie 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
that was breaking out in this time. Trade interests played an important role, because Amsterdam was becoming isolated as surrounding cities and towns joined the Dutch Revolt
, and other cities were threatening to take over its trade. No one was injured or killed during the coup. On May 29, a new city-council was formed, consisting of 30 Calvinists and 10 Catholics. Already after a few months plans were presented to expand the city and the harbor on the eastern side (Lastage
), and to construct new defensive fortifications (Oude Schans).
in 1576, Amsterdam was forced to subject itself to the Prince of Orange
and the States of Holland
, but the city-government wanted to stay loyal to the king, and they were opposed to letting the reformed church become the official religion. Only when the new Regent, John of Austria, recognised the Pacification, did Amsterdam follow his example. Lengthy negotiations followed about the Satisfactie (Eng: Satisfaction), a treaty that would put the city under the authority of the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland. After an incursion into the city by the Geuzen
in December 1577, the city government finally signed the treaty on February 8, 1578.
In 1578, Amsterdam was one of the most important cities that had not yet joined the Prince of Orange in his rebellion against King Philip II
. The war was costly, and a number of cities threatened to defect to the King. With the Satisfactie, Amsterdam joined the rest of the cities of Holland in joining the rebellion. Nonetheless, tensions increased when a conflict arose with the burgomaster
s of Amsterdam about the control over the schutterij
. An important issue with all cities was the question of religious freedom: if at least one hundred protestant families resided in a city, they had the right to gather for their own religious services. After a Hedge Preaching, the issue rapidly escalated.
and a large group of former exiled residents, many of whom owned land and warehouses on the Lastage
, organised a gathering to plan their next move. The next day the Dam Square
was closed off from the public. The catholic vroedschap (the city-council) was escorted to the Damrak
, where barges had been prepared to take them out of Amsterdam. On May 26th, 1578, 24 city-council members were forced to leave Amsterdam. They settled in Haarlem
or Leiden or quietly returned later on.
The Franciscans, who were hated by the population, were also forced to leave. The remaining monks were allowed to remain in the city, and received a pension. The monks were rich and possessed much land; in some monasteries there were hardly any monks present.
became the Nieuwe Zijds Kapel. The New Church was taken over by the Calvinists after a minor iconoclastic movement in September. The large number of monasteries of the city came under the control of the new city-government, and were given new, non-religious purposes, such as orphanages or prisons. Valuable books were collected in the New Church.
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...
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
Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
that was breaking out in this time. Trade interests played an important role, because Amsterdam was becoming isolated as surrounding cities and towns joined the Dutch Revolt
Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
, and other cities were threatening to take over its trade. No one was injured or killed during the coup. On May 29, a new city-council was formed, consisting of 30 Calvinists and 10 Catholics. Already after a few months plans were presented to expand the city and the harbor on the eastern side (Lastage
Lastage
Lastage is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
), and to construct new defensive fortifications (Oude Schans).
Conditions before the Alteratie
After the Pacification of GhentPacification of Ghent
The Pacification of Ghent, signed on November 8, 1576, was an alliance of the provinces of the Habsburg Netherlands for the purpose of driving mutinying Spanish mercenary troops from the country, and at the same time a peace treaty with the rebelling provinces Holland and Zeeland.-Background:In...
in 1576, Amsterdam was forced to subject itself to the Prince of Orange
William the Silent
William I, Prince of Orange , also widely known as William the Silent , or simply William of Orange , was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was born in the House of...
and the States of Holland
States of Holland
The States of Holland and West Frisia were the representation of the two Estates to the court of the Count of Holland...
, but the city-government wanted to stay loyal to the king, and they were opposed to letting the reformed church become the official religion. Only when the new Regent, John of Austria, recognised the Pacification, did Amsterdam follow his example. Lengthy negotiations followed about the Satisfactie (Eng: Satisfaction), a treaty that would put the city under the authority of the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland. After an incursion into the city by the Geuzen
Geuzen
Geuzen was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles and other malcontents, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called Watergeuzen...
in December 1577, the city government finally signed the treaty on February 8, 1578.
In 1578, Amsterdam was one of the most important cities that had not yet joined the Prince of Orange in his rebellion against King Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
. The war was costly, and a number of cities threatened to defect to the King. With the Satisfactie, Amsterdam joined the rest of the cities of Holland in joining the rebellion. Nonetheless, tensions increased when a conflict arose with the burgomaster
Burgomaster
Burgomaster is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief magistrate or chairman of the executive council of a sub-national level of administration...
s of Amsterdam about the control over the schutterij
Schutterij
Schutterij refers to a voluntary city guard or citizen militia in the medieval and early modern Netherlands, intended to protect the town or city from attack and act in case of revolt or fire. Their training grounds were often on open spaces within the city, near the city walls, but, when the...
. An important issue with all cities was the question of religious freedom: if at least one hundred protestant families resided in a city, they had the right to gather for their own religious services. After a Hedge Preaching, the issue rapidly escalated.
Rebellion
A commission of old GeuzenGeuzen
Geuzen was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles and other malcontents, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called Watergeuzen...
and a large group of former exiled residents, many of whom owned land and warehouses on the Lastage
Lastage
Lastage is a neighborhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands....
, organised a gathering to plan their next move. The next day the Dam Square
Dam Square
Dam Square, or simply the Dam is a town square in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the most well-known and important locations in the city.- Location and description :...
was closed off from the public. The catholic vroedschap (the city-council) was escorted to the Damrak
Damrak
The Damrak is a partially filled in canal at the centre of Amsterdam, between Amsterdam Centraal railway station and Dam Square, running north-south. It is the main street where people arriving at the station enter the centre of Amsterdam. Also it is one of the two GVB tram routes from the station...
, where barges had been prepared to take them out of Amsterdam. On May 26th, 1578, 24 city-council members were forced to leave Amsterdam. They settled in Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
or Leiden or quietly returned later on.
The Franciscans, who were hated by the population, were also forced to leave. The remaining monks were allowed to remain in the city, and received a pension. The monks were rich and possessed much land; in some monasteries there were hardly any monks present.
Consequences
As a result of the Alteratie, the parish-churches and chapels came into the hands of the protestants, who renamed them. The oldest parish church of the city, the St. Nicolaschurch, was rechristened as the Oude Kerk, and the Heilige StedeHeilige Stede
Nieuwezijds Kapel, or Heilige Stede or Chapel of the Heilige Stede refers to a site in Amsterdam that includes shops and a Dutch Reformed church built in 1908 on the site of a church once called the Heilige Stede, originally built in the 15th century to replace a chapel that burned in a city fire...
became the Nieuwe Zijds Kapel. The New Church was taken over by the Calvinists after a minor iconoclastic movement in September. The large number of monasteries of the city came under the control of the new city-government, and were given new, non-religious purposes, such as orphanages or prisons. Valuable books were collected in the New Church.
Sources
- Hooft, P.C. (1642) De Nederlandse Historiën in het kort. Dertiende boek, p. 236-42.
- Brugmans, H. (1972) De geschiedenis van Amsterdam. Deel 2: 80-jarige oorlog, p. 143-59.
- http://gemeentearchief.amsterdam.nl/schatkamer/300_schatten/macht/willem_van_oranje/ (nl)
- http://www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl/index.html?htmlfiles_nl/historie/historie4.htm~inhoud (nl)