Diederik Jansz. Graeff - Carriere

Carriere

Diederiks was a merchant, he bought and sold steel at his house De Keyser in a street, now called Damrak. Like his brothers Jan, Lenaert and Jacob, Diederik was one of the richest inhabitants of Amsterdam. In 1564 Diederik was a member of a delegation who spoke with the Spanish Regent about the political situation in Amsterdam and the province Holland. In 1567 he was against Charles de Brimeus entry in Amsterdam. In March of that year, backed by the brothers De Graeff and a large part of the bourgeoisie Henry, Count of Bréderode became the Generalcaptain of the city.

Diederik Graeff was also a friend of William the Silent. The Prince visited him at his house in Amsterdam. The armchair which was used by Prince William was now part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. This hooded chair is a unique example of an item of formal furniture from the estate of a late 16th-century Amsterdam burgomaster. Attached to the back of this armchair is a copper plate with the words from Pieter de Graeff "Willem the First, Prince of Orange, set in this chair in 1578 when he stayed with my great-grandfather, Burgomaster Dirk Jansz de Graeff, who then lived in a house called De Keijser by the water." In 1576 Graeff was a delegate of the States-General of the Netherlands. In 1578 Graeff was made regent-mayor of Amsterdam, by influence of Willem of Orange. Between the same year and his death in 1589 Graeff was a councillor of the city.

Diederik's tomb chapel is located in the Oude Kerk at Amsterdam.