Jan Bicker
Encyclopedia
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 Schepen
. His brothers Cornelis Bicker and Andries Bicker
were influential merchants and burgemeesters of the city. His older brother Jacob Bicker was lord of Engelenburg. When stadtholder William II attacked the city in 1650, one of his demands was that the Bickers voluntarily resigned their positions. The brothers were never burgemeester at the same time, but they had made agreements about an alliance, the so-called Bickerse ligue. After William II died in that same year, the Bickers regained their position. When Andries died, Jan was given the position of burgemeester, but did not keep it for long.
Bicker was married to Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek
, a sister of Cornelis de Graeff
. Two daughters were born from this marriage: Wendela Bicker and Jacoba Bicker. Wendela married Johan de Witt
and Jacoba was the wife of her cousin Pieter de Graeff
. De Bickers were part of the staatsgezinde partij (the pro-republican party) and opponents of the stadtholders, who belonged to the House of Orange-Nassau
. Jan Bickers son in law, the influential Grand Pensionary
Johan de Witt
practically controlled the Republic
during the First Stadtholderless Period
from 1650-1672. Several ownerships of Jan Bicker, amongst which the countryhouse 'De Eult' in Baarn
, eventually fell into the hands of the stadtholders.
Jan Bicker was a for his time wealthy man. Aside from Baarn
he also had countryhouses in Beverwijk
: Akerendam (1637) and Duynwijck. Within the city of Amsterdam, Jan Bicker owned a whole island, called the Bickerseiland. He bought the island in 1631 and had an enormous house with a high tower built there so that he could see his ships arrive.
Bicker family
Bicker is a very old Dutch patrician family . The family have played an important role during the Dutch Golden Age. They were at the centre of Amsterdam oligarchy from the begin of the 17th century until the early 1650s...
, an influential patricianfamily from 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...
. The son of Gerrit Bicker, he was a shipbuilder and merchant in Amsterdam. His trade was mainly focussed on the Levant
Levant
The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...
. Jan Bicker was the cities inspector of the ropes, and in 1647 he became Schepen
Schepen
A schepen is a Dutch word referring to a municipal civic office in Dutch-speaking countries. The term is still in use in Belgium, but it has been replaced by wethouder in the Netherlands. The closest English terms are alderman, member of the municipal executive, councillor and magistrate,...
. His brothers Cornelis Bicker and Andries Bicker
Andries Bicker
Andries Bicker was a wealthy merchant on Moscovia, a member of the vroedschap, the leader of the Arminians, an administrator of the VOC, representative of the States-General of the Netherlands and colonel in the Civic guard...
were influential merchants and burgemeesters of the city. His older brother Jacob Bicker was lord of Engelenburg. When stadtholder William II attacked the city in 1650, one of his demands was that the Bickers voluntarily resigned their positions. The brothers were never burgemeester at the same time, but they had made agreements about an alliance, the so-called Bickerse ligue. After William II died in that same year, the Bickers regained their position. When Andries died, Jan was given the position of burgemeester, but did not keep it for long.
Bicker was married to Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek
Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek
Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek , was a patrician woman from the Dutch Golden Age. She became famous as the mother-in-law of Johan de Witt....
, a sister of Cornelis de Graeff
Cornelis de Graeff
Cornelis de Graeff, also Cornelis de Graeff van Polsbroek was the most illustrious member of the De Graeff family. He was a mayor of Amsterdam from the Dutch Golden Age and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the sudden death of stadholder William II of Orange...
. Two daughters were born from this marriage: Wendela Bicker and Jacoba Bicker. Wendela married 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...
and Jacoba was the wife of 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...
. De Bickers were part of the staatsgezinde partij (the pro-republican party) and opponents of the stadtholders, who belonged to the House of Orange-Nassau
House of Orange-Nassau
The House of Orange-Nassau , a branch of the European House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands — and at times in Europe — since William I of Orange organized the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, which after the Eighty Years' War...
. Jan Bickers son in law, the influential Grand Pensionary
Grand Pensionary
The Grand Pensionary was the most important Dutch official during the time of the United Provinces. In theory he was only a civil servant of the Estates of the dominant province among the Seven United Provinces: the county of Holland...
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...
practically controlled the Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
during the First Stadtholderless Period
First Stadtholderless Period
The First Stadtholderless Period or Era is the period in the history of the Dutch Republic in which the office of a Stadtholder was absent in five of the seven Dutch provinces...
from 1650-1672. Several ownerships of Jan Bicker, amongst which the countryhouse 'De Eult' in 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 :...
, eventually fell into the hands of the stadtholders.
Jan Bicker was a for his time wealthy man. Aside from 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 :...
he also had countryhouses 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...
: Akerendam (1637) and Duynwijck. Within the city of Amsterdam, Jan Bicker owned a whole island, called the Bickerseiland. He bought the island in 1631 and had an enormous house with a high tower built there so that he could see his ships arrive.