Cornelia Teelinck

Cornelia Eeuwoutsdr. Teelinck (1554 – January 1577) was a Dutch Reformed writer and poet from Zierikzee in the County of Zeeland, known for her devotional writings and her role as an early female voice in the Reformed movement.

Personal life Teelinck was born in 1554 in Zierikzee, the youngest of four children in a prominent and literate family. Her father, Eewoud Teelinck, was a beer brewer and magistrate in the city and owned a library with books in Latin, French, and German. He died in 1561, leaving a substantial estate.

In 1575, Cornelia married Anthonie Limmens (also spelled Lammers or Lumers), a pious merchant from Antwerp. The couple lived in Antwerp, but Anthonie died only two years later, in 1577. Cornelia died five weeks after him, reportedly in Middelburg, at the age of 22 or 23.

The 1625 edition also included several short devotional poems composed by Teelinck, particularly lamentations written after the death of her husband.

Legacy Though her life and output were brief, Cornelia Teelinck became a notable figure in early Dutch religious literature. Her posthumously published confession circulated widely in the early 17th century and was praised for its clarity and devotion.

Her writings contributed to the spread of Reformed piety, particularly among women, during a crucial period in the history of Dutch Protestantism.

Cornelia's family remained influential in religious circles. Her brother Joost Teelinck served as mayor of Zierikzee and his son Willem Teelinck became a prominent pietist preacher.

She is adopted into the works 1001 Vrouwen uit de Nederlandse geschiedenis; a compilation of 1001 biographies of famous women of the Netherlands.

Selected works Een corte belijdenisse des geloofs (written c. 1573, published posthumously in 1607; 5th ed. 1625)