Episode 19: Johan de Witt, the Dutch Prime Minister who was “eaten” to death (1625 to 1672)

About this episode

The episode discusses the circumstances surrounding the violent death of Johan de Witt, a prominent Dutch Prime Minister, and its implications for the Dutch Republic.

The story of the time when the Dutch “ate” their “Prime Minister”. Why it happened, who did it and what effect did it have on the Dutch Republic? Episode Icon: Adriaen Hanneman, Johan de Witt, 1652, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. Recommended further reading… DeSanto, Ingrid Frederika, ‘Righteous Citizens: The Lynching of Johan and Cornelis DeWitt, The Hague, Collective Violence, and the Myth of Tolerance in the Dutch Golden Age, 1650-1672’, University of California, Los Angeles, 2018. Israel, Jonathan I. ’The Dutch Republic, Its Rise, Greatness and Fall, 1477-1806’, (Oxford, UK, 1998). Rowen, Herbert H. ‘John de Witt True Freedom: Statesman of the "True Freedom” ’, (Cambridge, UK, 1986). Schama, Simon, ’The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age’, (New York City, 1997). History House Newsletter Sign Up Form: https://2fi43x.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2ra1UsFX7SXuZqtGTVUKXNg Break audio: 'A Stormy Spirit by Tiny Music from PremiumBeat.com (Purchased with Standard License on the 29/11/2025). Ending and closing theme, 'Classical Orchestral Dvorak Serenade Waltz Strings Music, provided by mrgwertz on https://www.pond5.com (Purchased with…

Topics covered

• Dutch history
• Johan de Witt
• political violence
• Dutch Republic

Keywords

• lynching
• politics
• historical events
• Dutch Golden Age

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Righteous Citizens: The Lynching of Johan and Cornelis DeWitt, The Dutch Republic, Its Rise, Greatness and Fall, 1477, The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age, Classical Orchestral Dvorak Serenade Waltz Strings Music

Places: the Dutch Republic, Los Angeles, Israel, Oxford, UK, Cambridge, New York City

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