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Willem Bilderdijk

1756 – 1831

Dutch historian, linguist, poet and lawyer

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About Willem Bilderdijk

Lived 1756 – 1831 (aged 75). Willem Bilderdijk was a Dutch lawyer, poet, writer, historian, architect and painter.

Willem Bilderdijk (; 7 September 1756 – 18 December 1831) was a Dutch poet, historian, lawyer, and linguist.

Life Willem Bilderdijk was born on 7 September 1756 in Amsterdam in the Dutch Republic.

He was the son of an Amsterdam physician. When he was six years old an accident to his foot incapacitated him for ten years, and eventually president (1809–1811) of the Royal Institute.

Bilderdijk also taught the king Dutch although on one occasion, the king supposedly told his people that he was the "Konijn van 'Olland" ("rabbit of 'Olland"), rather than "Koning van Holland" ("King of Holland") because he had difficulty mastering Dutch pronunciation. and especially Isaac da Costa, who called his teacher "anti-revolutionary, anti-Barneveldtian, anti-Loevesteinish, anti-liberal".

Bilderdijk died in Haarlem in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands on 18 December 1831.

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Important facts

Birth century
Education
Leiden University
Also known as
mr. Willem Bilderdijk, mr. Willem Bilderwijk, mr. W. Bilderdijk

People in Willem Bilderdijk's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Willem Bilderdijk's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Willem Bilderdijk?

Dutch historian, linguist, poet and lawyer (1756-1831)

When was Willem Bilderdijk born?

Willem Bilderdijk was born on 7 September 1756 in Amsterdam.

When did Willem Bilderdijk die?

Willem Bilderdijk died on 18 December 1831 in Haarlem.

What was Willem Bilderdijk's occupation?

Willem Bilderdijk was a lawyer, poet, writer, historian, architect and painter.

What nationality was Willem Bilderdijk?

Willem Bilderdijk was Dutch.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Willem Bilderdijk

· Wikidata: Q1375186

· DBpedia: Willem Bilderdijk

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Willem Bilderdijk. https://biography.guide/willem-bilderdijk/

MLA: "Willem Bilderdijk." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/willem-bilderdijk/.

Chicago: "Willem Bilderdijk." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/willem-bilderdijk/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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