Stadtholder

A stadtholder (Dutch: stadhouder) was the person that ruled an area in the name of the land owner, in the Netherlands (which includes present-day Belgium) from the 15th to the 18th century.

After some of the Dutch provinces declared their independence in the late 16th century, the function of stadtholder became obsolete in absence of the land owner, but the function was continued in the provinces of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. Although each province could assign its own stadtholder, most stadtholders ruled over several provinces at the same time.

In 1747, the office of stadtholder was made hereditary for the entire republic. The function of stadtholder was abolished in 1795 with coming of the French and the start of the Batavian Republic.

Stadtholders of Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht

The stadtholdership of Holland and Zeeland has always been combined. Since the office was instuted there in 1534, the stadtholder of Utrecht has been the same as the one of Holland, with one exception.

In 1572, William of Orange was elected as the stadtholder, although Philip II of Spain had appointed a different one.

• Hugo van Lannoy[?], 1433-1440
• Willem van Lalaing[?], 1440-1445
• Gozewijn de Wilde[?], 1445-1448
• Jan van Lannoy[?], 1448-1462
• Lodewijk van Gruuthuse[?], 1462-1477
• Wolfert VI van Borselen[?], 1477-1480
• Joost van Lalaing[?], 1480-1483
• Jan III van Egmond[?], 1483-1515
• Hendrik III van Nassau[?], 1515-1521
• Antoon van Lalaing[?], 1522-1540
• René van Chalon[?], 1540-1544
• Louis of Flanders[?], 1544-1546
• Maximilian II of Bourgondy[?], 1547-1558
• William of Orange, 1559-1567
• Maximilian of Hennin[?], 1567-1573
• Philip of Noircarmes[?], 1573-1574
• William of Orange, 1572-1584
• Adolf van Nieuwenaar[?], 1584-1589 (only in Utrecht)
• Maurits of Nassau, 1585-1625
• Frederik Hendrik of Orange[?], 1625-1647
• William II, Prince of Orange, (1647-1650)
• First Stadtholderless Era[?], 1650-1672
• William III of Orange, 1672-1702
• Second Stadtholderless Era[?], 1702-1747
• Willem IV of Nassau 1747-1751
• William V of Orange 1751-1795

Stadtholders of Friesland

• J. de Ligne[?], 1559-1568
• Charles de Brimeu[?], 1568-1572
• Caspar de Robles[?], 1572-1576
• Joris van Rennenberg[?], 1576-1580
• William of Orange, 1580-1584
• Willem Lodewijk[?], 1584-1620
• Ernst Casimir[?], 1620-1632
• Hendrik Casimir I[?], 1632-1640
• Willem Frederik[?], 1640-1664
• Hendrik Casimir II[?], 1664-1696
• Johan Willem Friso[?], 1696-1711
• Willem IV of Nassau, 1711-1751
• William V of Orange, 1751-1795

Stadtholders of Gelre

Stadtholders of Groningen

Stadtholders of Overijssel

Common misspelling and questions (FAQ)

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