Debora van der Plas

Debora van der Plas was a Swedish entrepreneur active in metal industry.

Born in Dordrecth, Netherlands Debora arrived to Sweden accompanying his father, the Dutch artist Laurens van der Plas who was hired by the Swedish court. At the age of 28 she married Jan van Ruyff, a merchant and owner of the manor Axbergshammars bruk in Närke. Another chapter of her life opened in 1658 when she became a widow and the manager of her husband's business. Through shrewd business decisions, Debora became one of Sweden's most notable skippers and exporters of iron and copper with a network of business partners in England and the Netherlands. She retired from business in 1672 due to poor health leaving the business to her son-in-law, Henrik Cletcher.