Andries Bicker

Andries Bicker was born on 14 September 1586 into one of Amsterdam's richest families. He grew up on Lange Niezel, and his father Gerrit Bicker was one of the founders of the Dutch East India Company (VOC).

The Bicker league

Andries joined the city council in 1616, became an alderman in 1620 and was first elected burgomaster in January 1627. He served again in 1629, 1631, 1633, 1634, 1636, 1640, 1641, 1645 and 1649: ten times in all. Around 1646 seven Bickers held political office, including his brothers Jan, Jacob and Cornelis, and people spoke of the "Bicker league". His brother Jan bought the island still called Bickerseiland in 1631.

Bicker was a merchant and financier. His trade in silver from Cádiz helped turn Amsterdam into Europe's market for Spanish silver, and he invested in draining the Purmer, Schermer and Heerhugowaard lakes north of the city. As an envoy he travelled to Danzig, Poland, Sweden and Denmark. With his brother Cornelis and his cousin Cornelis de Graeff he was one of the driving forces behind the Peace of Münster of 1648, which ended the Eighty Years' War with Spain.

The stadtholder at the gates

Bicker fiercely opposed the power of the House of Orange, and in 1650 that led to a showdown. On 30 July the stadtholder, William II, tried to pressure Amsterdam with troops. Bicker's son Gerard warned his father, and Andries and his brother Cornelis ordered the civic guard to defend the city. The attack failed, but the stadtholder demanded their resignation and Andries had to leave the council.

It did not last. William II died of smallpox soon after, and two weeks later the Bicker brothers were reinstated. Andries did not enjoy it for long: he died on 24 June 1652 and was buried in the Oude Kerk. Bartholomeus van der Helst painted his portrait in 1642, now in the Rijksmuseum.