The World of Johan de Witt

In the 400th anniversary of his birth, the Dordrechts Museum is reflecting on the life of Johan de Witt, one of the most important and best-known politicians in Dutch history. In a historical art exhibition with works by the most famous artists from the seventeenth century, the museum asks the question: who was Johan de Witt?

In this exhibition, we immerse ourselves in seventeenth-century painting that sheds new light on the life of Johan de Witt. He is known as a Grand Pensionary who made decisions for the Dutch Republic that still have an impact today. In art, De Witt was seen as a swan protecting his nest. Now we also get to know him as a bon vivant, husband, father, brother and son. He learns to dance in the French town of Angers, has to deal with the loss of his wife and children, and survives an assassination attempt before being lynched in The Hague in 1672.

With paintings from renowned European collections and extensive research into Johan de Witt’s correspondence, the Dordrechts Museum tells a story in which art and history are interwoven. In this way, a new perspective is created on special works of art, the colonial past and the role of women in the Republic.