Aerndt Sweers

Arent Sweers, born 11th November 1575, dead 2nd February 1635 and buried in Grote Kerk. Governor in Nijmegen, 1628-1635 administrator in "Camer vam Amsterdam" (Chamber of Amsterdam), 1617 Bijde (bailiff) in Nijmegen and 1631 councellor in Nijmegen.

Arent Sweers is also called Aerndt and Aernout in the sources, and his third wife Aeltje van Bronckhorst also Alida. Since their son, vice admiral Isaac Sweers, used the names Arent and Aeltje, these names have been chosen here.

The Remonstrant Movement

Arent Sweers became a follower of the Remonstrant theological movement. Both he and his wife were Calvinists, but in 1610 arose the Romanstrant movement based upon Jacobus Armenius' (dead 1609) manuscript "Remonstrantia" - from latin "remonstrare"; prove, demonstrate. In "Store Norske Leksikon" we read, in translation: Remonstrant; small church society in The Netherlands, so called because of the title of the manuscript where the movement in 1610 formulated their free-spirited understanding of some of the theological questions debated heavily at the time".

In other word, where the Calvinists says that (much in) life is predestined, the Remontrants based their belief upon the free will of every individual. There arose a strong anti-Remonstrant movement, and Arent Sweers who had a strong position in his society found himself in more difficult times when the opposition against the Remonstrant strengthened. For a period from 1618-19 onwards they were denied access to the church. Interestingly enough, we see that the time between the birth dates and dates of baptism of Arent and Aeltje's children in those particular years increase, as opposed to this time span of their elder children who were baptized more rapidly. Possibly, they had problems finding priests willing to perform the baptism of Remonstrant children

His active part in the Remonstrant movement also brought him trouble in his profession. Being a member of the City Council of Nijmegen, he soon found himself among those members who avoided the council boards and came together in private houses. This followed an incident on 19th November 1617, when the conflict between the Remonstrant and the contra-Remonstrants both held sermons in the St., Stevenschruch. A struggle involving stones and short swords arose, and the contra-Remonstrants found they had to leave and hold their sermon elsewhere. Some efforts to bring peace among the groups failed, and for some time the Remonstrant were the most powerful faction. However, by the end of 1618 both religious and worldly affairs in Nijmegen turned in the contra-Remonstrants way. The years following from 1618 until the death of prince Maurtiz in 1625 are very silent about Arent Sweers activities, but sources say that there were complaints that the Remonstrant held secret meeting in open air.

The vast majority of the Remonstrant returned to the public church. We may assume, says R.B. Prud'homme van Reine, that this was also the case with Arent Sweers, although he belonged in 1617/18 to the most fanatic Remonstrant in Nijmegen. By 1625, before price Maurtitz' death in April, there is evidence that the prince was against the election of Arent Sweers for the city council due to his activism a few years earlier. After the prince died and his brother Frederik Henrik who was more in favour of the ex dissidents took office, this changed. So much did his situation change that on 2nd July 1629, upon the death of lieutenant admiral Piet Hein, Arent Sweers was delegated to represent the city of Nijmegen at his burial. Little did Arent Sweers suspect that his by then seven years old son Isaac would be buried in the same honourable way as Hein half a century later.

Today, the Remonstrant Church in The Netherlands has some 20,000 members according to Store Norske Leksikon. A small society, but still going strong.

Aernout (Aerndt) SWEERS was born 11 Nov 1575 in Nijmegen (Geld.), NL. He died 02 Feb 1635 in Nijmegen (Geld.), NL and was buried in Nijmegen (Geld.), NL. Aernout married Alida (Aeltgen) VAN BRONCKHORST on 05 May 1607 in Deventer (Ov.), NL.

Aernout was employed regent. He was employed bewindhebber. He was employed schout. He was employed raad. He was employed burgemeester.

Alida (Aeltgen) VAN BRONCKHORST was born 10 Nov 1583 in Deventer (Ov.), NL. She died 06 Oct 1635 in Nijmegen (Geld.) (NL), ? and was buried in Nijmegen (Geld.), NL. Alida married Aernout (Aerndt) SWEERS on 05 May 1607 in Deventer (Ov.), NL.

They had the following children:

     M i Derck SWEERS was born EST ABT 1607. He was buried 08 Mar 1635 in Nijmegen (Geld.), NL.

     F ii Judith SWEERS was born 06 Jun 1608 and died 03 Dec 1630.

     M iii Johannes SWEERS was born 05 Apr 1609 and died 21 Aug 1639.

     M iv Salomon SWEERS was christened 30 Jun 1612 and died 02 Mar 1674.

     M v Jacobus SWEERS was born 25 Oct 1614 and died 25 Jun 1645.

     M vi Abraham SWEERS was born 06 Feb 1617 in Nijmegen (Geld.), NL and was christened 04 Mar 1617 in Nijmegen (Geld.), NL. He died 04 Aug 1641 in (Braz. from murdered.

Abraham was employed kapitein i.d.v. Westindische Compagnie in Brazili.

     F vii Catharina SWEERS was born 09 Sep 1619 and died 1667.

     M viii Isaac SWEERS was born 01 Jan 1622 and died 21 Aug 1673.

     M ix Benjamin SWEERS was born 21 Mar 1623 in Nijmegen (Geld.), NL and was christened 04 Apr 1623. He died 16 Apr 1642 in Batavia, Indonesia.

familie uit helmond.////