Joan Huydecoper van Maarsseveen

Joan Huydecoper van Maarsseveen was a wealthy trader and political leader of Amsterdam. Huydecoper means literally “buyer of pelts”, and it indentifies family tannery business and trade in pelts and armaments. Huydecoper’s father was also an initial investor in the Dutch East India Company, thus leaving considerable inheritance to Joan.

Besides his interest in trade, Huydecoper was a real-estate developer in Maarsseveen along the river Vecht (Utrecht), where he had his country house. Huydecoper was a connoisseur of fine arts and was friendly with Jan Vos (poet), who praised his house and collection of paintings in several poems. He is also mentioned as the first person in Amsterdam who bought a painting from Rembrandt. With his diverse interests and unification of wealth, politics and art, Huydecoper symbolises the prosperity of Amsterdam during the Golden Age.