In 2024, Hilversum will celebrate its 600th anniversary and the city will sparkle like never before! But, whoa. Wait a minute: what happened 600 years ago? City or village, what is the situation? Who exactly were those Erfgooiers, will the real Hilversummer please stand up? Was there no Hilversum at all before then? To get you excited about our city, which is about to celebrate its birthday, we will take you in a series of articles to the Hilversum of yesterday, today and the future.
Born in Germany
Jan van Beieren came - as his name suggests - not from the Netherlands, but from Germany. In 1373 Jan was born as the youngest son of Albert of Bavaria. Albrecht was duke of the German region of Lower Bavaria-Straubing. Albrecht was also count of Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut. His eldest son Willem, brother of Jan, would succeed him as count. His middle son became duke. So there was little left for youngest son Jan: He inherited some 'lordships' in Holland, namely Gooiland, Voorne and Woerden.
John Without Grace
But when the bishop of Liège died in 1389, father Albrecht managed to take control of the Liège diocese. And that was intended for Jan. With permission from Rome, Pope Boniface IX appointed John elect of Liège in 1390. And he remained so for 28 years. It was a period with much popular revolt against Jan's rule. In 1408, many people from Liège were murdered at the battle of Othee. This gave Jan the nickname John Without Grace. In 1418 he gave up his position in Liège. He saw an opportunity to try his luck elsewhere.
Free play in Holland
After the death of father Albrecht and youngest brother, Jan became Duke of Lower Bavaria-Straubing. His eldest brother also died. So Jan became Count of Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut. To do this, he first had to drive out his niece Jacoba. This succeeded thanks to the support of the German Emperor Sigismund and the opposition in the Dutch provinces. A civil war ensued, after which a treaty was concluded on February 13, 1419. John of Bavaria and Jacoba would rule the areas together for five years. But because Jacoba went to live in Hainaut with her husband John IV, Duke of Brabant, John of Bavaria had free rein in Holland.
Hilversum independent village
Things remained restless in the area. Hilversum was plundered several times by the Sticht Utrecht between 1420 and 1422. Jan made peace with the Sticht, but Hilversum had suffered greatly from the plundering. In order to recover damages from the Stichts Utrecht, Jan Hilversum donated its own 'court' in 1424, or its own court. And that was the thing: Hilversum was administratively separated from Laren. Hilversum as an independent village was born!
Subsidy
Things did not end well for Jan: poison on the prayer book. Then you don't have to lick your thumbs when you turn the page. He died on January 6, 1425. Hilversum, on the other hand, flourished and grew. And this year it officially celebrates its 600th anniversary. Need money to organize the activity? Subsidy is available from the 'Energy from the City' scheme until October 2024. How that works can be found on 600jaarhilversum.nl.
The “birth certificate” of Hilversum. Deed of privilege by Jan van Beieren whereby Hilversum, which previously had one alderman's bench with Laren, acquires a separate aldermen's bench.
Source: Historische Kring Albertus Perk
Image: Throw and Fight Historical