Hugo de Groot - Oranje Route

Hugo de Groot was born in Delft in 1583. Soon he amazed everyone with his intelligence and knowledge. Already at the age of 11, he was admitted to Leiden University to study law. Five years later, he obtained his doctorate. Hugo was considered one of the founding fathers of international law. Among his most famous works are "Mare Liberum" (on the law of the free sea) and "De Iuri Belli ac Pacis" (on the law of war and peace).

During the Twelve Year Truce (1609-1621) in the Dutch Revolt, a religious disagreement between Remonstrants and Counter-Remonstrants flared up. Serious riots broke out between the two sides. Prince Maurice and his army were given great powers to maintain order. Remonstrant members of the States of Holland were immediately imprisoned by order of Prince Maurice, including Hugo de Groot, pensionary of Rotterdam.

De Groot was sentenced to life imprisonment and transferred to Slot Loevestein. During his imprisonment, Hugo de Groot read a lot. Piles of books were brought and retrieved in a large chest. On 22 March 1621, Hugo de Groot fled from Loevestein in that book chest. He disguised himself as a bricklayer and fled the city. Hugo went to Paris and, supported by the king of France, petitioned the States of Holland to allow his wife and children to also leave for France. This request was granted, on condition that De Groot never returned to the Netherlands. In 1634, Hugo de Groot was appointed ambassador for the Queen of Sweden in France. In 1645, his ship suffered shipwreck on a return voyage from Sweden. Hugo did not survive this disaster and died in Rostock, Germany. He is buried in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft.