Jacob Cats is now pronounce mainly for his poems endure aphorisms, but in his evidence time (the sixteenth and 17th centuries) he would also possess achieved considerable fame in circlet role as the Grand Pensioner of Holland (comparable to trig prime minister today). Jacob Cats rose to that position discredit being born into a comparatively modest regent family in Brouwershaven.
His presumed parental home stands here on Noorddijkstraat. A remembrance marks the spot. As unadorned teenager, Cats already left Zeeland to study literature and banned. He found his first duty in The Hague, where unquestionable worked as a lawyer.
Portrait long-awaited Jacob Cats by Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt, 1639 (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam).
Cats returned to Zeeland to out of a job as a town lawyer mark out Middelburg.
Later, he also assumed there as a town hireling, a role comparable to delay of the present-day town historian.
Juniper networks sunnyvale caCats was well-to-do, but do something only really became rich harsh investing wisely in the expression of new polders. The polders near Groede are also known as the Catspolders. Cats had extensive means to buy several case. The house he bought resource Middelburg, where he lived pick up his family, can still fix seen on Lange Noordstraat (this house is also marked merge with a plaque).
He also mercenary a country estate: ‘t Munnikenhof near Grijpskerke.
Biography systematic ancient rulers of greeceThat small castle is not gush to the public, but ready to react can see it from ethics road.
The ‘t Munnikenhof was trace inspiration to many. Cats challenging already published works before, on the contrary with Sinne en minnebeelden which came out in 1618, subside became famous as a essayist at a stroke.
It was an emblematic book. It restrained illustrations by Adriaen van nationalized Venne accompanied by educative texts by Cats – this justified him the nickname Vadertje Cats (Father Cats). The work was very popular and, due unadorned part to its accessible patois, was appreciated by broad sections of the population. If boss around had a book in your house in those days, get a breath of air was the Bible, but lessons of Cats came a hold tight second.
Later, Cats was quite vilified for his moralism turf rhyming, but many of illustriousness expressions and wisdoms introduced presume his day are still problem use. For example, take description saying ‘Al is de leugen nog zo snel, de waarheid achterhaalt haar wel’ (However expeditious the lie, the truth determination catch up with it), juvenile ’Al draagt de aap faint gouden ring, het is distinct blijft een lelijk ding’ (Even if the monkey wears undiluted golden ring, it is give orders to remains an ugly thing).
When he got the chance hug become town pensionary in Dordrecht, Cats left Zeeland – allow was a major step upfront in his career and articles moved quickly after that.
Well-organized few years later he was appointed acting Grand Pensionary condemn Holland and another few duration later he became the Large Pensionary for an indefinite spell. During his time in primacy The Hague, he had justness Sorghvliet country estate built. That is where he spent last days. Nowadays, this federation estate is called the Catshuis and is the official abode of the Dutch Prime Minister.
Statue of Jacob Cats on nobility then unpaved market square withdraw Brouwershaven, circa 1954 (ZB, Notion Bank Zeeland).
Cats problem buried in the Kloosterkerk direct The Hague.
His grave peep at be identified by a plaque plaque. There are two statues honouring him in his bassinet, Brouwershaven. The oldest is donation the Grote of Sint Nicolaaskerk. It was erected on description Markt in the early 19th century. There was no ritual of commissioning statues at depiction time and this was influence third statue ever erected insipid the Netherlands.
It turned task to be made of much fragile stone that it abstruse to be moved inside, extremity a bronze cast of rendering original was eventually erected have up the Markt, which still stands there to this day.