To piece together details of Nicolaes Harnasveger’s life, I am grateful to Dr. Jaap Geraerts (academia.edu; livesandletters.ac.uk), Dutch genealogist Odette Franssen (geneanet.org), and historian Barry Teichroeb (mooserungenealogy.com) for sharing background research and their personal correspondence.
“26 May 1554 (burial of a child of) Hernisveger, Claes Jacopsz. Burial place: Old Church. On the 26th received from Claes Jacopsz Hernisveger [for] his child under the arm … buried here 1- 9-”
First, the date: 26 May 1554. This is mid-16th century Amsterdam — a time of:
- Religious tension (Anabaptists had already been persecuted heavily in the 1530s–1540s)
- Rapid urban growth
- High infant mortality
- Strong parish record-keeping through the Catholic Church (the Oude Kerk was still Catholic in 1554)
The church received payment of burial fees for an infant (“child under the arm”).
This tells us:
- Claes (a traditional short form for Nicolaes) was recognized as the responsible father.
- The infant was formally buried in consecrated ground, which means Nicolaes was still integrated in the Catholic civic system
- Since there is no marginal note suggesting poverty or charity burial, Nicolaes had enough means to pay promptly, suggesting a stable artisan status.
The Oude Kerk (“Old Church”), consecrated in 1306, was originally known as Sint-Nicolaaskerk (“Saint Nicolaas Church”). In the sixteenth century it stood at the spiritual and civic heart of Amsterdam.
In 1578, during Amsterdam’s shift from Catholic to Protestant control (the “Alteratie”), the church became Reformed and its interior was stripped of Catholic imagery.
Today the Oude Kerk stands in the centre of Amsterdam’s historic core, in the area now known as the Red Light District (De Wallen), just a short walk from Dam Square and Amsterdam Centraal Station.
1562 — List of reported Anabaptists (Those who follow have been reported as re-baptized members of the sect of the Mennonists)
Claes Jacobssen, armour-maker, in Sint Olofskapelsteeg, secretary.
Notes:
“aangebrachte herdoopten” = “reported/denounced re-baptized persons.”
This language reflects official reporting to authorities.“herdoopten” literally means “re-baptized,” the common term for Anabaptists.
“secte ter mennonisten” = “sect of the Mennonists/Mennonites”
“harnaschmaker” = armour-maker
“Sint Olofscapelsteegch” = St. Olaf’s Chapel Alley (a narrow street in Amsterdam). This is where Nicolaes lived. The chapel and alley still exists today, just east of Damrak and a short walk from the Oude Kerk and Amsterdam Centraal Station.
“secretaris” indicates an official role within the Mennonite group.