Tuinstraat 1639

 

The Arrival

Jan Franz Van Husum arrived in Amsterdam sometime between October of 1634 and May of 1639. These two dates separate the Grote Mandrenke, the Great Man Drowning flood and the departure the ship Den Harinck for America with Jan and Volkje aboard. 

During that time Jan and Franz lived on Tuinstraat.

It was the Dutch Golden Age, an era of political, economic, and cultural greatness when the little nation facing the North Sea ranked among the most powerful in the world, sending ships to explore and settle the New World and bring back silks from exotic Japan.

 

Tuinstraat, Amsterdam, Google Earth, 2021

 

Tuinstraat, Jordaan District

Tuinstraat, in Amsterdam's Jordaan district, lies between Lijnbaansgracht and Prinsengracht, running roughly northeast, 500 meters long. Nearby was the new Dutch Reformed Westerkirche (1620-1631) situated between the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht. Today, Tuinstraat is noted for its proximity to the Anne Frank House on Prinsengracht. 

 

Now considered central Amsterdam, then, in the 17th century, the Jordaan District was new, reclaimed by windmills and canals from the soggy marshlands, a place for immigrants searching for low rents. Rembrandt Van Rijn (1606-1609), moved to a house on Rozengracht when he could no longer afford to live in the city center. Bloemgracht where Joan Blaeu (1596 –1673) and his father had their bookshop is a few streets south. And not far away were the great merchants’ new and opulent homes on the Herengracht Canal.

 

By the mid-1600s when Jan Franz Van Husum moved to Tuinstraat along with Volkje Van Nordstrand, Amsterdam was lit by a series of lanterns on every bridge and in front of every twelfth house. The Night Watchman, famously painted by Rembrandt, patrolled the streets and canals with his lantern, sword and rattle, with which to sound the alarm. Amsterdam had by now some 400 book shops and people were clamoring for books on travel, like those by Jacob Cats, which added a touch of morality.

In 1688, almost 50 years after Jan and Volkje departed for America, William of Orange and his wife Mary, sister of England’s King James, would embark on a ship headed for England and a Glorious Revolution.

 

Tuinstraat, Amsterdam

Getting Married

Prior to setting sail in May of 1639 for America, Jan Van Husum and Volkje Juriaens lived on Tuinstraat in Amsterdam. This fact comes from the marriage certificate kept in the Nieuwe Kerk where they were married, dated April 30th, 1639.

Detail of marriage Certificate of Jan Franz Van Husum and Volkje Juriaens

[Note. One immediately notices that there are variations in spellings of names and places. Jan's name is spelled "Jan Franz Van Housum". Volkje's name is spelled "Volckje Juriaens dr van Noortstrandt". Tuinstraat is spelled "Tuijnstraat." Spelling conventions have changed over time. Moreover, spelling may depend on whether the language is Dutch, German, of English.]

Tuinstraat, Amsterdam

Tuinstraat (meaning "Garden Street") can still be found in Amsterdam, near the Dam Platz and the Niewe Kerk where Jan and Volkje were married. From the Dam Platz, head past Rembrandt's studio towards the Jordaan District.It is not too far from the Anne Frank House.

The marriage certificate's reference to "Corte" (Spanish for courtyard) likely refers to courtyard. Keep in mind that the Dutch provinces were once part of the Spanish empire, not achieving formal independence until 1649, ten years after the newly weds left.

Dam Platz and New Church, 1659, Jacob van der Ulft, Musee Condee, Chantily

The couple married in the relatively close Nieuwe Kirk located in the Domplatz.