Hugo de Groot in de boekenkist vanuit Slot Loevestein naar Gorinchem gevaren, 1621 1800 - 1849

This anonymous print depicts Hugo de Groot’s escape from Loevestein Castle in 1621. De Groot, a legal scholar imprisoned for his involvement in Dutch Republic politics, is shown here in a boat, having just been smuggled out in a book chest by his wife, the loyal Elsje van Houweningen who is waving from the tower. Made not long after the event, in the Netherlands, the print uses symbolic visual codes to frame de Groot’s escape as both politically significant and divinely sanctioned. The ship in the background represents the Dutch Republic, threatened by internal conflict. The church in Gorinchem, the destination, symbolizes spiritual refuge and righteousness. Prints like this one were crucial in shaping public opinion, turning de Groot into a folk hero who could threaten the existing social and political order. By examining pamphlets and archival documents, we can understand the Dutch Republic’s investment in de Groot as a symbol of resistance against tyranny and a champion of religious and intellectual freedom.