Michiel de Ruyter\u00a0(1607-1676) is the most famous and one of the most skilled\u00a0admirals\u00a0in\u00a0Dutch history. \u00a0De Ruyter is most famous for his role in the\u00a0Anglo-Dutch Wars\u00a0of the 17th century. He fought the\u00a0English\u00a0and\u00a0French\u00a0and scored several major victories against them.<\/p>\n
De Ruyter\u00a0was highly respected by his sailors and soldiers, who used the term of endearment\u00a0Besteva\u00ear\u00a0(old dutch for “Granddad”) for him, both because of his disregard for hierarchy, being himself of humble origin, and his refusal to back away from risky and bold undertakings despite his usually cautious nature.<\/p>\n
Almost every town in the Netherlands has a street named after him. But respect also extended far beyond the borders of the Republic.<\/p>\n
The painting of the Dutch Golden Age master Jacobson shows de Ruyter in the centre of the group on the left. He holds his admiralty staff in his left hand and points to the group of smaller children playing in the foreground. These children were born by \u00a0his third wife, who sits next to him, dressed in black. The other persons in the painting are his children from his former wives, who all have died before him.<\/p>\n
This image shows us not only the portrait of a wealthy Dutch family from the Golden Age. It also shows us, how low the expectation of life was at the time, especially for women who dyed frequently in the child bed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Michiel de Ruyter\u00a0(1607-1676) is the most famous and one of the most skilled\u00a0admirals\u00a0in\u00a0Dutch history. \u00a0De Ruyter is most famous for his role in the\u00a0Anglo-Dutch Wars\u00a0of the 17th century. He fought the\u00a0English\u00a0and\u00a0French\u00a0and scored several major victories against them. De Ruyter\u00a0was highly respected by his sailors and soldiers, who used the term of endearment\u00a0Besteva\u00ear\u00a0(old dutch for “Granddad”) … Continue reading Michiel de Ruyter and his Family<\/span>