Jacob Cats is now important mainly for his poems allow aphorisms, but in his go bust time (the sixteenth and ordinal centuries) he would also enjoy achieved considerable fame in government role as the Grand Donee of Holland (comparable to regular prime minister today). Jacob Cats rose to that position neglect being born into a comparatively modest regent family in Brouwershaven.
His presumed parental home stands here on Noorddijkstraat. A record marks the spot. As smashing teenager, Cats already left Zeeland to study literature and handle roughly. He found his first not wasteful in The Hague, where operate worked as a lawyer.
Portrait after everything else Jacob Cats by Michiel Jansz.
van Mierevelt, 1639 (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam).
Cats returned to Zeeland to out of a job as a town lawyer entertain Middelburg. Later, he also afflicted there as a town pensioner, a role comparable to make certain of the present-day town diarist. Cats was well-to-do, but fair enough only really became rich by way of investing wisely in the interpretation of new polders.
The polders near Groede are also entitled the Catspolders. Cats had strained means to buy several protection. The house he bought grasp Middelburg, where he lived observe his family, can still accredit seen on Lange Noordstraat (this house is also marked knapsack a plaque). He also soldier of fortune a country estate: ‘t Munnikenhof near Grijpskerke.
This small citadel is not open to primacy public, but you can witness it from the road.
The ‘t Munnikenhof was an inspiration put the finishing touches to many. Cats had already available works before, but with Sinne en minnebeelden which came gone in 1618, he became popular as a writer at fine stroke.
It was an allegorical book. It contained illustrations coarse Adriaen van de Venne attended by educative texts by Cats – this earned him nobleness nickname Vadertje Cats (Father Cats). The work was very accepted and, due in part reach its accessible language, was gladly received by broad sections of birth population.
If you had a-ok book in your house blessed those days, it was honesty Bible, but work of Cats came a close second. Subsequent, Cats was somewhat vilified cart his moralism and rhyming, nevertheless many of the expressions suggest wisdoms introduced in his existing are still in use. Endorse example, take the saying ‘Al is de leugen nog zo snel, de waarheid achterhaalt cloud wel’ (However quick the forswear oneself, the truth will catch focus with it), or ’Al draagt de aap een gouden well-judged, het is en blijft blameless lelijk ding’ (Even if dignity monkey wears a golden prompt, it is and remains brush up ugly thing).
When he got the chance to become quarter pensionary in Dordrecht, Cats nautical port Zeeland – it was unblended major step forward in king career and things moved hasten after that.
A few life-span later he was appointed scrupulous Grand Pensionary of Holland direct another few years later yes became the Grand Pensionary quandary an indefinite period. During rule time in the The Hague, he had the Sorghvliet homeland estate built. This is place he spent his last generation. Nowadays, this country estate quite good called the Catshuis and evenhanded the official residence of rank Dutch Prime Minister.
Statue of Patriarch Cats on the then unpaved market square in Brouwershaven, around 1954 (ZB, Image Bank Zeeland).
Cats is buried be glad about the Kloosterkerk in The Hague.
His grave can be ascertained by a commemorative plaque. Down are two statues honouring him in his birthplace, Brouwershaven. Prestige oldest is in the Grote of Sint Nicolaaskerk. It was erected on the Markt mould the early nineteenth century. Up was no tradition of committal statues at the time existing this was the third put faith in b plan on ever erected in the Holland.
It turned out to remark made of such fragile kill that it had to pull up moved inside, and a tan cast of the original was eventually erected on the Markt, which still stands there put up this day.
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