# Kaatje van den Poele — The First Sir Percy character guide

> Kaatje van den Poele in The First Sir Percy by Baroness Orczy.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Kaatje, the stolid Kaatje, the good Kaatje, the worthy Kaatje, the wealthy Kaatje, The lovely Kaatje

**First appearance:** 0000-i-a-night-on-the-veluwe

## Snapshot

A wealthy, stolid Dutch matron whose prosperous composure at the wedding feast throws the Beresteyns' anxious earnestness into sharp and telling relief.

## Who they are

Kaatje van den Poele belongs to the comfortable burgher world that gathers for the double wedding at Amersfoort — her husband a shipowner and East India Company man, her family pompous and fleshy with prosperity. She stands among the guests as a foil to Mynheer Beresteyn's grave, watchful joy, part of the social fabric that the day's dark interruptions will unsettle. Her presence measures how far the celebration has drifted from ordinary festivity.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/ii)

The bride of Nicolaes Beresteyn, described as stolid, complacent, and beaming with happiness, wearing rich brocade and jewelry.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iv)

Stolid and unconcerned, munching sweetmeats while others react to the Stadtholder's collapse.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vi)

The other bride, who receives chaff with complacence and saucy replies.

### [III: The Great Interruption](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iii-the-great-interruption)

Left pouting and desolate beside her morose bridegroom after the interruption.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iii)

She is weeping and complaining elsewhere in the house.

### [IV: Adder's Fork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iv-adder-s-fork)

Nicolaes's wealthy fiancée, closeted with her mother; Gilda pities her after Nicolaes's behavior.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as having sobbed herself to sleep; Nicolaes's new bride, left alone on her wedding night.

### [A Nest of Scorpions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vi-a-nest-of-scorpions)

Mentioned as being taken to Amsterdam by her father, Mynheer van den Poele, amid the Spanish threat.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as Nicolaes's stolid wife, from whom he is glad to be away at camp.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/vii)

Mentioned as Maria, Gilda's tiring-woman, who repeats the spy rumor and shows disdain for Diogenes and Pythagoras.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/iii)

Nicolaes's young wife is mentioned as being away, having left with her father for Amsterdam at the first rumor of the enemy's approach.

### [XVII: The Only World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/xvii-the-only-world)

Maria (Kaatje) recounts being bound and gagged by two ruffians, then released; she comforts Gilda with wine and maternal care.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/chapters/i)

Old serving-woman, bound and gagged by two ruffians, released and tends to Gilda with loyalty and warmth.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters/kaatje_van_den_poele
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_sir_percy_se/characters