Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Bredero by H.W. Caspari after an engraving byHessel Gerritsz | |
| Born | Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero (1585-03-16)16 March 1585 Amsterdam,Dutch Republic |
| Died | 23 August 1618(1618-08-23) (aged 33) Amsterdam,Dutch Republic |
| Occupation | Poet,playwright |
| Language | Dutch |
| Literary movement | De Egelantier |
Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero (16 March 1585 – 23 August 1618)[1] was a Dutchpoet andplaywright in the period known as theDutch Golden Age.
Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero was born on 16 March 1585 inAmsterdam in theDutch Republic,[1] where he lived his whole life. He called himself"G.A. Bredero, Amstelredammer", and sometimes he is calledBreero orBrederode. He was the third child of Marry Gerbrants and Adriaen Cornelisz Bredero, who was ashoemaker and a successfulreal estate agent. Bredero was born in theNes, nowadays number 41, and in 1602 he and his family moved to a house onOudezijds Voorburgwal, now number 244, which his father had bought. Bredero lived in this house for the rest of his life. Both houses are now restaurants in Amsterdam's famous red light district.
At school Bredero learnedFrench and possibly also someEnglish andLatin. Later he was educated as an artist by theAntwerp painterFrancesco Badens,[1] but none of his paintings have survived. In 1611 he became a member of therederijkerskamerd'Eglantier, where he was an active member and became friends withRoemer Visscher andP.C.Hooft. Together with Hooft he joinedCostersNederduytsche Academie. Around this time he wrote the play"De Spaanschen Brabander Jerolimo".
The only public position Bredero achieved was asvaandrig orstandard bearer of thecivic guard. On 23 August 1618, at the age of 33, Bredero suddenly died, shortly after he had recovered frompneumonia that he had contracted after falling through ice. He never married.
