Andries Bicker (14 September 1586 – 24 June 1652) was a prominent burgomaster (mayor) of Amsterdam, politician and diplomat in the Dutch Republic.

[1] Then the management of the Amsterdam city council fell into the hands of the tolerant Bicker and his uncle Jacob Dircksz de Graeff.

[3] Andries Bicker was considered one of the strongest political adversaries of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange,[4] and controlled Dutch foreign policy.

In May 1627 Bicker was sent by the States-General as an ambassador to Danzig, Elbing and Königsberg to represent Dutch commercial interests and close negotiations between Poland, Sweden and Brandenburg.

[18] The Dutch diplomats were visited by Axel Oxenstierna, Governor-General in Riga but refused Gustavus Adolphus further monetary aid and demanded peace with Poland.

In the 1630s, Bicker ruled the city together with his uncle Jacob Dircksz de Graeff portrayed as the arminian clique,[21] helping the Republicans regain influence and recognition for the first time since Johan van Oldenbarnevelt's beheading.

[32][33] Bicker faced accusations involving private affairs, allegedly including monopolizing the fur and pepper trade.

Johan Elias claimed he served as a manager of the VOC in 1641, though there is confusion with Jacob Bicker, who also assumed a position at the Wisselbank.

[40] The end of the Torstenson War rested on the power of the Dutch naval dominance by Admiral Witte de With who arrived in the Sound in July 1645 to support a free passage.

In March Frederick Henry died; Andries Bicker, Adriaan Pauw and the inner power circle of the States of Holland advocated a drastic reduction of 6,000 mercenaries.

In October the States General decided to authorize the admiralties to issue passports to the skippers for the export of silver from Spain; Bicker was involved in the request, so Dutch soldiers could be paid.

[56] Following the treaties and the downsizing of land forces, the youthful stadtholder William II sought to assert control over Amsterdam and devised plans for an unlawful attack on the city.

[57][58] On Saturday 30 July 1650, Andries and Cornelis Bicker ordered the civic guard to defend the city against an attack on Amsterdam.

The attack, a show of force, failed but in the negotiations the stadtholder insisted that Andries and Cornelis Bicker[59] resign from their posts.

[11][61][62] However, two weeks after William II died of smallpox they were restored in their functions;[59] next February Cornelis was sent to the States of Holland for three years.

[64] On 11 May, he requested his discharge from this function; Andries Bicker died on 24 June and was buried two days later in the Oude Kerk, Amsterdam.

Although not direct descendants, in 1655, his cousin Wendela Bicker married Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt, whose dominance in Dutch politics persisted until the Year of Disaster.

Five survived childhood: The Bicker family, renowned as one of Amsterdam's oldest patrician lineages, occupied a prominent position within the city's ruling oligarchy.

[4][67] Engaged in extensive trade, they actively supported the establishment of the East and West India Companies, with Jacob and Cornelis Bicker serving on their boards.

[69] With a stronghold on global commerce spanning the East, West, North, and Mediterranean, the Bicker brothers exerted formidable control over international trade routes.