Johan de Witt: Quick Recap

A snapshot of Johan de Witt’s life, key events, and surprising twists.

Early Life

Maritime Power and the Anglo-Dutch Wars

True Freedom and Political Dynamics

The Rampjaar

Downfall

Sources

Johan de Witt was a statesman and mathematician who served as Grand Pensionary of Holland from 1653 to 1672, during the Dutch Golden Age. His career was marked by incredible achievements in diplomacy, naval reform, and political strategy—until it culminated in one of history’s most shocking finales, complete with an unexpected menu item.

Portrait of Johan de Witt.

Early Life

Born on September 24, 1625, in Dordrecht, Johan de Witt came from a prosperous family of merchants and lawyers(exactly the sort of upbringing that earns you the title of "elitist," whether it’s true or not). He excelled at mathematics and law, graduating from Leiden University before being elected Grand Pensionary at 28—a meteoric rise that no doubt turned heads[1].

In 1655, he married Wendela Bicker, the daughter of a republican merchant and shipbuilder. Their marriage was described in a letter as "the joining of bodies," proving that poetic license in wedding announcements isn’t a modern invention[8].

Maritime Power and the Anglo-Dutch Wars

De Witt’s leadership was deeply tied to the Anglo-Dutch Wars, where he reformed the navy to protect the Republic’s maritime dominance. Under his watch, the Dutch built bigger, better-armed ships[1].

During the Second Anglo-Dutch War(1665-1667), he took an unusually hands-on approach to naval affairs. Despite suffering from seasickness, De Witt occasionally ventured aboard ships, even commissioning a custom anti-rocking hammock from Christiaan Huygens to make the experience slightly less miserable[1].

As the war dragged on, De Witt had the idea to launch a daring raid into the Thames estuary[2]. His enthusiasm for the operation was so intense that pilots and admirals reportedly found his presence “domineering”[8]. The result, however, was worth the tension.

In 1667, Admiral Michiel de Ruyter executed the Raid on the Medway with devastating success. Dutch forces captured the Royal Charles, England’s flagship, and burned much of the fleet(leaving England thoroughly embarrassed). This victory boosted morale and helped secure a favorable peace at the Treaty of Breda.

The Raid on the Medway.

True Freedom and Political Dynamics

Johan de Witt's "True Freedom"(ware vrijheid) was all about decentralization, provincial sovereignty, free trade and religious tolerance(pretty radical for the 17th century, right?)[11]. Under his leadership, the Dutch Republic enjoyed intellectual progress and economic prosperity, playing a pivotal role in the "European Concert" of nations, despite navigating major wars and Orangist hostility[13].

Politics in De Witt's time was sharply divided between the Staatsgezinden(States Party), primarily supported by the merchant class and aligned with "True Freedom,"; and the popular Prinsgezinden (Orangists), who favored a stadtholder(ideally from the House of Orange) as a necessary figure for stability and security, especially during times of crisis.

But for De Witt, the stadtholderate—an effectively hereditary role—represented a direct threat to liberty. Believing that "any war is an obstacle to freedom"(a naval war to protect trade was the only exemption), he distrusted the House of Orange and its militarism[11]. The struggle between these factions persisted throughout De Witt's career and would eventually escalate.

De Witt was never one to shy away from controversy. Just a year after becoming Grand Pensionary, he solidified his republican stance with the Act of Seclusion (1654)—a secret agreement with Cromwell to prevent the House of Orange from regaining power—which was received about as well as you might expect. In 1667, fresh off his successes, De Witt doubled down with the Perpetual Edict, abolishing the office of stadtholder in Holland. This made him even more polarizing and set the stage for the public backlash that would lead to his demise.

The Perpetual Edict was passed. It lasted 5 years.

The Rampjaar

1672, known as the Rampjaar(Disaster Year), was a turning point for both the Dutch Republic and De Witt, where everything fell apart very quickly.

Several key factors led to this chaos:

Foreign Invasions: Following the Treaty of Dover(which was basically to say Charles ignored the Triple Alliance to conspire with France), France and England secretly allied against the Dutch. In May 1672, England attacked by sea, while France, joined by Münster and Cologne, invaded by land[4][5].
Internal Divisions: The Dutch Republic's flawed government structure severely hindered a unified military response, with some provinces surrendering to invaders without significant resistance[4][5].
Military Neglect: De Witt's focus on naval power left the army underfunded and ill-prepared. Efforts to bolster defenses were too little, too late to stop the French advances[4][5].
Public Opinion Crisis: As defeats piled up, people lost faith in the government. Orangists took the opportunity to unleash a propaganda campaign accusing De Witt of betrayal and secret Catholic sympathies, turning public sentiment firmly against him[6][7]. The pamphlets didn’t hold back on creativity. One even claimed he was denied entry to Hell because the devil feared he might take over the place[9]. How Johan might have responded to accusations of staging a coup in the underworld, we will never know.

Pamphlets published in 1672[6].

Downfall

Johan’s life descended into chaos with a startling speed.

June 9:

Following the surrender and capture of several towns, the French began to cross the Rhine, breaching the Republic’s main line of defense. Shocked at the disastrous news, he concluded "the fatherland is now lost"[14].

June 21:

Four men attacked him on his usual walk home from the Binnenhof. He survived the assassination attempt but was severely injured. Of the attackers, only one was caught and executed—earning the honor of becoming a "martyr" among the people[12].

July 3:

Political tides shifted decisively and the Perpetual Edict was revoked. Shortly after, William III was appointed Stadtholder[10].

July 24:

Johan’s brother Cornelis was arrested on trumped-up charges of treason. Later he was tortured but refused to confess. He was sentenced to exile[1]. In the eyes of the people this was a miscarriage of justice, but not in the way you might expect. They didn't want exile, they wanted him dead.

August 4:

Under mounting pressure, Johan resigned as Grand Pensionary.

August 20:

Johan went to see his brother Cornelis in prison.