Person
Andries de Graeff
Dutch politician
Free Imperial Knight Andries de Graeff (Amsterdam, February 19, 1611 – November 30, 1678) is a very powerful member of the Amsterdam branch of the Graeff family during the Dutch Golden Age.
He becomes a mayor of Amsterdam and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the death of his older brother Cornelis de Graeff.
Like him and their father Jacob Dircksz de Graeff he opposes the house of Orange.
In the mid 17th century he controls the finances and politics.
Andries de Graeff follows in the footsteps of his father and brothers; between 1657 and 1672, he is appointed mayor some seven times.
De Graeff is a member of a family of regents who belong to the republican political movement also referred to as ‘state oriented’, as opposed to the Royalists.
Andries is called the last regent and mayor from the dynastiy of the "Graven"who is powerful and able enough to rule the city of Amsterdam.
De Graeff is also an Ambachtsheer (Lord of the manor) from Urk en Emmeloord, during the late 1650s chief councillor of the Admiralty of Amsterdam, chief landholder of the Watergraafsmeer and dijkgraaf van Nieuwer-Amstel.
Together with his broether Cornelis De Graeff, he becomes an illustrious art patron and collector.