Pieter Vreede
Encyclopedia
Pieter Vreede was a Dutch politician of the Batavian Republic
in the 18th century. Vreede was born in Leiden and died in Heusden
. He was a prominent critic of stadholderian misrule and of the urban patriciate.
The patriotic revolution broke out in the 1780s in the Netherlands and Pieter Vreede was one of the enthusiastic participants. Pieter and his friend Wijbo Fijnje made a constitution for Leiden, a founder of the local exercitiegenootschap
, a drill society and drafted the celebrated Programme which proposed transforming the United Provinces into a unitary democratic Republic. In 1786, he became member of the revolutionary town council of Leiden. The infamous Vreede joined in a diplomatic expedition in Woerden
in 1786. The revolution came to an end, when the Prussian army invaded the Netherlands in 1787. Pieter lost his business in Prussian Emmerich, so his business was reverted to Lier
in the Austrian Netherlands.
Revolution broke out in the Austrian Netherlands as well in 1790, when the United States of Belgium
were proclaimed. Pieter left Leiden, stopped his business in Lier and settled in Brabant of the States
in the city Tilburg
, where he continued his business as cloth and wool manufacturer until 1800.
France conquered Brabant in 1794 and Pieter Vreede immediately sided with the French. The French were very popular in the Netherlands. Many regarded the orangist regime as wrong due to the events of 1787. In 1794, he became member of Batavian committee of Den Bosch. The same year, he became member of the revolutionary committee of Brabant
. The French continued their advance into the Netherlands
and Pieter Vreede became member of the administration of the conquered areas of the Netherlands in January 1795. Revolution broke out in the Netherlands and William V, Prince of Orange
had to flee to England. The Batavian Republic
was proclaimed.
Pieter Vreede became member of the municipality of Tilburg in April 1795. He became member of the provisional government council of North Brabant
in June 1795. He was chosen in the first democratically elected parliament of the Netherlands, the National Assembly of the Batavian Republic
in 1796 for the district of Bergen op Zoom
. He was chairman of the parliament from 13 November 1797 to 27 November 1797.
Vreede was the most outspoken spokesman of the unitarian democratic parliament members. The unitarion democrats were in favour of a centralized government
and of general elections for all adult men. The majority in the parliament was in favour of federalism
and semi-democratic elections for property owners. Pieter Vreede and Wijbo Fijnje did a coupe d'état in 1798 and ruled for a few months, alienating both enemies and friends. A coupe d'état made an end to his rule and Vreede had to flee from the Netherlands to Lier, which was French territory at that time.
He came back to the Netherlands in the same year and settled in Tilburg where his manufactury was. He stopped his business in 1800 and settled in Waalre
.
His political career continued in 1815, when the French were gone and the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
was proclaimed. He was a member of the provincial council of North Brabant
from 1815 onwards. He worked as commissionary of the customs office first local and then on a national level until his death in 1837.
Pieter Vreede married three times and two of his wives died. He got 12 children.
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
in the 18th century. Vreede was born in Leiden and died in Heusden
Heusden
Heusden is a municipality and a city in the South of the Netherlands. It is located between the cities Waalwijk and 's-Hertogenbosch.- Population centres :...
. He was a prominent critic of stadholderian misrule and of the urban patriciate.
Biography
In Leiden, Vreede worked as a cloth and wool manufacturer, as his father had. Pieter Vreede was member of the Maatschappij der Nederlandsche Letterkunde (organization of writers and readers) and published some writings about the bad shape of the Dutch society.The patriotic revolution broke out in the 1780s in the Netherlands and Pieter Vreede was one of the enthusiastic participants. Pieter and his friend Wijbo Fijnje made a constitution for Leiden, a founder of the local exercitiegenootschap
Exercitiegenootschap
An exercitiegenootschap or militia was a military organisation in the 18th century Netherlands, in the form of an armed private organization with a democratically chosen administration, aiming to train the citizens and the lower bourgeoisie in use of muskets...
, a drill society and drafted the celebrated Programme which proposed transforming the United Provinces into a unitary democratic Republic. In 1786, he became member of the revolutionary town council of Leiden. The infamous Vreede joined in a diplomatic expedition in Woerden
Woerden
Woerden is a municipality and a city in the central Netherlands. Due to its central location between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, and the fact that it has excellent rail and road connections to those cities, it is a popular town for commuters who work in those cities.-Population...
in 1786. The revolution came to an end, when the Prussian army invaded the Netherlands in 1787. Pieter lost his business in Prussian Emmerich, so his business was reverted to Lier
Lier, Belgium
Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per...
in the Austrian Netherlands.
Revolution broke out in the Austrian Netherlands as well in 1790, when the United States of Belgium
United States of Belgium
The United States of Belgium, part of Brabant.In October, he invaded Brabant and captured Turnhout, defeating the Austrians in the Battle of Turnhout on October 27. Ghent was taken on November 13, and on November 17 the imperial regents Albert of Saxony and Archduchess Maria Christina fled Brussels...
were proclaimed. Pieter left Leiden, stopped his business in Lier and settled in Brabant of the States
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
in the city Tilburg
Tilburg
Tilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
, where he continued his business as cloth and wool manufacturer until 1800.
France conquered Brabant in 1794 and Pieter Vreede immediately sided with the French. The French were very popular in the Netherlands. Many regarded the orangist regime as wrong due to the events of 1787. In 1794, he became member of Batavian committee of Den Bosch. The same year, he became member of the revolutionary committee of Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
. The French continued their advance into the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Pieter Vreede became member of the administration of the conquered areas of the Netherlands in January 1795. Revolution broke out in the Netherlands and William V, Prince of Orange
William V, Prince of Orange
William V , Prince of Orange-Nassau was the last Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, and between 1795 and 1806 he led the Government of the Dutch Republic in Exile in London. He was succeeded by his son William I...
had to flee to England. The Batavian Republic
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
was proclaimed.
Pieter Vreede became member of the municipality of Tilburg in April 1795. He became member of the provisional government council of North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
in June 1795. He was chosen in the first democratically elected parliament of the Netherlands, the National Assembly of the Batavian Republic
National Assembly of the Batavian Republic
The National Assembly of the Batavian Republic was the name for the Dutch parliament between 1796 and 1801. The National assembly was founded in 1796 after general elections. It replaced the States-General of the Batavian Republic...
in 1796 for the district of Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom is a municipality and a city located in the south of the Netherlands.-History:Bergen op Zoom was granted city status probably in 1266. In 1287 the city and its surroundings became a lordship as it was separated from the lordship of Breda. The lordship was elevated to a margraviate...
. He was chairman of the parliament from 13 November 1797 to 27 November 1797.
Vreede was the most outspoken spokesman of the unitarian democratic parliament members. The unitarion democrats were in favour of a centralized government
Centralized government
A centralized or centralised government is one in which power or legal authority is exerted or coordinated by a de facto political executive to which federal states, local authorities, and smaller units are considered subject...
and of general elections for all adult men. The majority in the parliament was in favour of federalism
Federalism
Federalism is a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head. The term "federalism" is also used to describe a system of the government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between a central governing authority and...
and semi-democratic elections for property owners. Pieter Vreede and Wijbo Fijnje did a coupe d'état in 1798 and ruled for a few months, alienating both enemies and friends. A coupe d'état made an end to his rule and Vreede had to flee from the Netherlands to Lier, which was French territory at that time.
He came back to the Netherlands in the same year and settled in Tilburg where his manufactury was. He stopped his business in 1800 and settled in Waalre
Waalre
Waalre is an affluent municipality and town in the southern Netherlands, immediately south of the city of Eindhoven.- Population centres :Aalst, Achtereind, De Heuvel, Heikant, Loon, Timmereind and Waalre....
.
His political career continued in 1815, when the French were gone and the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...
was proclaimed. He was a member of the provincial council of North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
from 1815 onwards. He worked as commissionary of the customs office first local and then on a national level until his death in 1837.
Pieter Vreede married three times and two of his wives died. He got 12 children.