Carolus Hacquart

He received his education, comprising Latin and composition as well as viola da gamba, lute and organ, most probably in his native town.

Records referring to a 'Charges Akkert' who is accepted in September 1650 as a choirboy in the St. Salvator's Church in Bruges suggest he may have been born later than 1640.

Attracted by the growth of musical life of the rich citizens of the Dutch Republic, his brother Philips moved to Amsterdam around 1670 where he was joined by Carolus a few years later.

Carolus moved in 1679 to The Hague, where he taught and organized concerts with the support of the elderly Constantijn Huygens, who was the chief councillor of William III, the stadtholder and future king of England.

Based on the possible identification with a person with a similar name (Charles Hakert) who was identified as a native of Holland in a document dated 16 July 1697, it is believed that he had then moved to England.

[4] Hacquart is the composer of the first opera in the Dutch language with the title De triomfeerende Min (Triumphant Love).

His first published work is the Cantiones Sacrae, which consists of religious pieces for vocal soloists, choir and instrumentalists which could be sung by both Catholics and Protestants (1674).