The Black Tulip · Character

John de Witt

The Grand Pensionary of Holland, cool-headed even as the mob closes in, trying to save his brother with the last tools of a statesman.

supporting

Also known as John, Mynheer John, Mynheer John de Witt, the Grand Pensionary, the Grand Pensionary John

First appearance: A Grateful People

As a supporting figure in The Black Tulip, John de Witt is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Resigned as Grand Pensionary; wounded in an earlier assassination attempt; hurries to meet his fate at the Buytenhof.

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John de Witt has spent his career steering the Dutch republic through faction and foreign pressure, and now finds the streets of his own city turned against him. In the carriage with his brother he keeps thinking — testing gates, reading crowds, bargaining with a gatekeeper for one more chance — even as the noose tightens. His doomed composure in the early chapters sets the tone of political dread that hangs over the whole book.

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See John de Witt in A Grateful People

Character Web

12 connections

A slice of how John de Witt sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Social
Other

Character groups

Political and Romantic Figures
Minor and Antagonistic Characters
Protagonist

+7 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of Cornelius’s despair—he be…

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Relationships

Cornelius van Baerle
professional · positive
Cornelius is a loyal godson and protégé of John de Witt, who entrusts him with the tulip… How this plays out →
Count Tilly
professional · ambivalent
Rosa Gryphus
social · positive
Craeke
professional · positive
William of Orange
rivalry · negative
Cornelius van Baerle
professional · positive
Cornelius is a loyal godson and protégé of John de Witt, who entrusts him with the tulip… How this plays out →
Cornelius van Baerle
professional · positive
Cornelius is a loyal godson and protégé of John de Witt, who entrusts him with the tulip… How this plays out →
Count Tilly
professional · ambivalent
Rosa Gryphus
social · positive
Rosa Gryphus
social · positive
Craeke
professional · positive
William of Orange
rivalry · negative

Cornelius van Baerle
Cornelius is a loyal godson and protégé of John de Witt, who entrusts him with the tulip bulbs before his political downfall.
Count Tilly
Count Tilly is a military officer who escorts John de Witt under orders, maintaining a formal and respectful professional demeanor.
Rosa Gryphus
John de Witt briefly interacts with Rosa as a prisoner's advocate, showing kindness before his own tragic death.
Craeke
Craeke serves John de Witt as a trusted messenger, helping to smuggle the tulip bulbs to Cornelius.
William of Orange
John de Witt and William of Orange are political rivals, with William orchestrating the downfall of the de Witt brothers.
Cornelius van Baerle
Cornelius is a loyal godson and protégé of John de Witt, who entrusts him with the tulip bulbs before his political downfall.
Cornelius van Baerle
Cornelius is a loyal godson and protégé of John de Witt, who entrusts him with the tulip bulbs before his political downfall.
Count Tilly
Count Tilly is a military officer who escorts John de Witt under orders, maintaining a formal and respectful professional demeanor.
Rosa Gryphus
John de Witt briefly interacts with Rosa as a prisoner's advocate, showing kindness before his own tragic death.
Rosa Gryphus
John de Witt briefly interacts with Rosa as a prisoner's advocate, showing kindness before his own tragic death.
Craeke
Craeke serves John de Witt as a trusted messenger, helping to smuggle the tulip bulbs to Cornelius.
William of Orange
John de Witt and William of Orange are political rivals, with William orchestrating the downfall of the de Witt brothers.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See John de Witt in A Grateful People

In the story

John de Witt appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

A Grateful People
Resigned as Grand Pensionary; wounded in an earlier assassination attempt; hurries to meet his fate at the Buytenhof.
II: The Two Brothers
Visits his brother Cornelius in prison, having navigated through hostile crowds. He is anxious about the secret correspondence and urges its destruction.
III: The Pupil of John de Witt
Organizes the escape of his brother Cornelius, expresses gratitude to Rosa, and departs with Cornelius to the Tol-Hek.
IV: The Murderers
Dragged from his carriage, beaten, stabbed, and finally shot in the face by the mob.
VII: The Happy Man Makes Acquaintance with Misfortune
Mentioned as the sender of the correspondence and the master of Craeke; his political troubles loom over the chapter.
VIII: An Invasion
Mentioned as having been arrested for high treason and later murdered by the Orange party.
IX: The Family Cell
His corpse is also gibbeted alongside his brother's; Cornelius prays for his soul.
XI: Cornelius van Baerle’s Will
His servant Craeke delivered a paper to Van Baerle before his arrest; the paper is now missing.
XII: The Execution
Remembered by Cornelius as a friend who was murdered for politics.

Chapter companion notes

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See John de Witt in A Grateful People