Gijsbrecht van Aemstel (play)



Gijsbrecht van Aemstel was a 17th-century history play by Joost van den Vondel, written to inaugurate Amsterdam's first city theatre. The first production was planned to take place on 26 December 1637, but was postponed until 3 January 1638. The piece was then performed annually in Amsterdam until 1968.

Plot

Set in 1304, it tells the story of the siege of Amsterdam and its surrounding towns, united by the Kennemers and Waterlanders. The reason for the siege is Gijsbrecht's alleged involvement in the abduction and manslaughter of Floris V in 1296.
The enemy soldiers appear to leave but smuggle themselves into the town, hidden in a cargo of firewood being shipped in by the citizens of Amsterdam. After a violent battle, Gijsbrecht is forced to flee to Prussia, to found a "New Holland" there.

Historical accuracy

In reality, the nobleman who in 1304 invaded Amsterdam was not Gijsbrecht IV, but his son Jan I.
Historian Pim de Boer at the University of Groningen has found serious indications that Gijsbrecht - after his exile, with a few followers - founded Pruissisch Holland, not far from Elbing.

Parodies

Various parodies and continuations of the play have been produced by other authors, including the musical The Angel of Amsterdam.

Texts