About
Constantijn Huygens (1596-1687) was a versatile figure of the Dutch Golden Age. As secretary to three Princes of Orange, he served Frederick Henry, William II, and William III. Knighted by King James I of England in 1622, he acquired the lordship of Zuilichem in 1630. A prolific poet, he wrote works such as Korenbloemen and Costelyck mal, and translated poems by John Donne. A composer and lutenist, he discovered Rembrandt and corresponded with Descartes. Father of Christiaan Huygens, he left an extensive correspondence preserved at the Royal Library of the Netherlands.
* 1596-09-04 — † 1687-03-28
Major works
- Costelyck mal (1622)satirical poem
- Trijntje Cornelis (1653)farce
- Korenbloemen (1658)poetry collection
- Dagh-werckpoem
- Hofwijckpoem
Key milestones
- 1622Knighted by King James I of England
- 1630Acquires the lordship of Zuilichem
- 1627Marries Suzanna van Baerle
Themes
Court lifeReligionNatureSocial satireHumanism
Sources: kb.nl · britannica.com · emlo-portal.bodleian.ox.ac.uk