Dirck Jansz Graeff
Dirck Jansz Graeff | |
|---|---|
| Regent and Mayor of Amsterdam | |
| In office 1578–1579 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1532 Amsterdam |
| Died | 27 July 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(s) | House De Keyser on the Damrak in Amsterdam, country estates Valckeveen near Gooiland, Vredenhof near Voorschoten |
| Occupation | burgomaster |
| Profession | Wholesaler and ship-owner |
Dirck Jansz Graeff, also Diederik Jansz Graeff, Lord of the manors Valckeveen and Vredenhof (Amsterdam 1532 – 27 July 1589), was a patrician, wholesaler, shipowner, politician and large landowner. He became an important figure of the Protestant Reformation, member of the Reformed Church, supporter of the Geuzen and the Protestant-minded community of wholesale merchants, and a confidant of William I of Orange (William the Silent). Graeff was the founder of a regent dynasty 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 Burgomaster of Amsterdam from the De Graeff family.