Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek

Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek (ca. 1663/64), painted by Wallerant Vaillant

Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek (Amsterdam, 10 November 1603 ibid 3 or 4 March 1656), was a patrician woman from the Dutch Golden Age. She became known as the mother-in-law of Johan de Witt.

Biography

Agneta was a scion of the De Graeff family and born as the oldest daughter of Jacob Dircksz de Graeff and Aeltje Boelens Loen (1579-1630), herself daughter of the politician Cornelis Andriesz Boelens Loen (1552-1584), great-grandson of Andries Boelens (1455–1519), a famous regent of Amsterdam. In 1625 she was married to later Amsterdam burgomaster Jan Bicker. The couple had five daughters: Elisabeth Bicker (1630–1660) married Jacobus Trip, a wealthy arms dealer Geertruida Bicker (1634–1702) married Jean Deutz, a rich Banker and Investor of Amsterdam Wendela Bicker (1635–1668) married Johan de Witt Cornelia Bicker (1638–1665), married her full cousin Gerard Bicker (I) van Swieten Jacoba Bicker (1640–1695) married her full cousin Pieter de Graeff

The couple lived at their country houses De Eult at Baarn, Akerendam and Duynwijck in Beverwijk. Between the city of Amsterdam they owned a cityhause at Herengracht and an island, called Bickerseiland. Her tomb chapel is located at the Westerkerk.

Coat of arms

Agneta de Graeff van Polsbroek's coat of arms was quartered and showed the following symbols: field 1 (left above) the silver shovel on a red background of their paternal ancestors, the Herren von Graben field 2 (right above) it shows a silver falcon on a blue background. The origin of the falcon lies in the possession of the Valckeveen estate (later the Valckenburg estate) in Gooiland field 3 (left below), same as field 2 field 4 (right below), same as field 1 helmet covers in red and silver helm adornment shows an upright silver spade with ostrich feathers (Herren von Graben) motto: MORS SCEPTRA LIGONIBUS AEQUAT (DEATH MAKES SEPTRES AND HOES EQUAL)