Gerbrand Bredero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero
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Portrait of Bredero by H.W. Caspari after an engraving by Hessel Gerritsz
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| Born | Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero 16 March 1585 Amsterdam, Dutch Republic |
| Died | 23 August 1618 (aged 33) Amsterdam, Dutch Republic |
| Occupation | Poet, playwright |
| Language | Dutch |
| Literary movement | De Egelantier |
Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero (born March 16, 1585 – died August 23, 1618) was a famous Dutch poet and playwright. He lived during a special time in Dutch history called the Dutch Golden Age. This was a period when the Netherlands was very rich and powerful, and arts and science were booming.
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Life of Gerbrand Bredero
Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero was born in Amsterdam, in the Dutch Republic, on March 16, 1585. He lived his entire life in this city. He often called himself "G.A. Bredero, Amstelredammer," which means "Bredero from Amsterdam." Sometimes, people also called him Breero or Brederode.
Family and Home
Gerbrand was the third child of Marry Gerbrants and Adriaen Cornelisz Bredero. His father was a shoemaker and also a very successful real estate agent. This meant his father bought and sold houses and land.
Bredero was born in a part of Amsterdam called the Nes. In 1602, his family moved to a house on Oudezijds Voorburgwal, which his father had bought. Bredero lived in this house for the rest of his life.
Education and Art
At school, Bredero learned French and possibly some English and Latin. Later, he trained to become an artist. He studied with a painter from Antwerp named Francesco Badens. However, none of Bredero's paintings have survived to this day.
Joining the Rederijkers
In 1611, Bredero became a member of a group called d'Eglantier. This group was a rederijkerskamer, which was like a club for poets and playwrights. They would perform plays and recite poems. Bredero was a very active member of this club.
He became good friends with other famous writers of his time, like Roemer Visscher and P.C. Hooft. Together with Hooft, he also joined Coster's Nederduytsche Academie, which was another important group for Dutch writers. Around this time, he wrote one of his famous plays, "De Spaanschen Brabander Jerolimo".
Public Role and Death
The only public job Bredero had was being a vaandrig, or standard bearer, for the civic guard. The civic guard was a group of citizens who helped protect the city.
Sadly, Bredero died suddenly on August 23, 1618, when he was only 33 years old. He had just recovered from pneumonia, which he got after falling through ice. He never married.
Plays by Bredero
Bredero wrote many popular plays during his short life. Here are some of his most well-known works:
- Rodd'rick ende Alphonsus (first performed in 1611)
- Griane (first performed in 1612)
- Klucht van de Koe
- Klucht van de Molenaer
- Moortje (first performed in 1615)
- Lucelle (first performed c. 1616)
- Spaanschen Brabander (Spanish Brabanter; first performed in 1617)
See also
In Spanish: Gerbrand Bredero para niños
