De Graeff
De Graeff (Dutch pronunciation: [dəˈɣraːf]; also: De Graef, Graef, Graeff, Graaff, Graaf and De Graeff van Polsbroek) is an old Dutch patrician and noble family,
| De Graeff Graef / Graeff / De Graaff / De Graaf / De Graeff van Polsbroek | |
|---|---|
| noble and patrician family | |
"MORS SCEPTRA LIGONIBUS AEQUAT" | |
| Parent house | Herren von Graben |
| Country | Netherlands, Germany, South Africa |
| Founded | ~1484 |
| Founder | Peter von Graben aka Pieter Graeff |
| Titles | knight, jonkheer |
| Style(s) | vrijheer (Free Lord) of Zuid-Polsbroek, Purmerland and Ilpendam |
| Estate(s) | Ilpenstein castle, Soestdijk Palace, House van der Graeff, Herengracht 573 |
| Cadet branches | De Graeff van Polsbroek, Graeff, Graef, De Graaff, De Graaf |
The Amsterdam line of the family played an important role during the Dutch Golden Age. They were at the centre of Amsterdam and Holland public life and oligarchy from 1578 until 1672, and belonged to the Dutch States Party. During that time, members of the De Graeff family were also important patrons of art and artists such as Rembrandt, Govaert Flinck, Gerard ter Borch, Jacob van Ruisdael, Caspar Netscher, Gerard de Lairesse, Artus Quellinus and Joost van den Vondel.
In 1677 they were made knights of the Holy Roman Empire. Since 1885 that line has been part of the Dutch nobility with the honorific of jonkheer.