Mathias Balen

Balen (born 1 October 1611 in Dordrecht; died 1691) was a Dutch historian.

He first distinguished himself as a poet, but afterwards applied himself to historical researches, and in 1677 published a description of Dordrecht in two volumes, which is full of valuable matter.

In his book, he lists most of the regents of the various guilds and other organizations in the town, including local painters and poets, among them Margaretha van Godewijk, who wrote a poem for his book.

Cuyp, and others He was probably the father or grandfather of Matthijs Balen, who became a registered pupil of Arnold Houbraken.

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Rose, Hugh James (1857).