Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Joost van den Vondel

Role / Field:

The "Prince of Poets" of the Dutch Golden Age, a master playwright and poet.

Born:

1587-11-17

Died:

1679-02-05

Century / Era:

1587s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Joost van den Vondel (Dutch: [ˈjoːst fɑn də(ɱ) ˈvɔndəl]; 17 November 1587 – 5 February 1679) was a Dutch playwright, poet, literary translator and writer. He is generally regarded as the greatest writer in the Dutch language as well as an important figure in the history of Western literature. In his native country, Vondel is often called the "Prince of Poets" and the Dutch language is sometimes referred to as "the language of Vondel". His oeuvre consists of 33 plays, a large number of poems in different genres and forms, an epic poem and many translations of predominantly classical literature.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Vondel lived in the Dutch Republic during the Eighty Years' War and became the leading literary figure of the Dutch Golden Age. Although Vondel was born in Cologne, his family, who were Mennonites, originally came from Antwerp, but had to flee after the fall of the city in 1585. They settled in Cologne, but were persecuted there as well. Eventually they moved to Amsterdam in the then newly formed Dutch Republic. In Amsterdam, Vondel joined the Chamber of rhetoric, a literary society where members studied and composed poetry together.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This was the start of his long career as a writer. In 1610...

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• 1587 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1587
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Frequently Asked Questions about Joost van den Vondel