Pachtersoproer

It was the system of commercial tax-collection called pacht that brought serious complaints, combined with deep dissatisfaction at the way in which the regents and the landed gentry exercised their power.

The houses of the landadel (great-men) and the tax-collectors were ransacked, particularly those who had not sufficiently demonstrated their loyalty to the Orangist regime.

On June 17 the Botermarkt, now Rembrandtplein, called together a crowd to offer such a threat that the collectors of the butter tax saw themselves forced out of office several hours earlier than normal to conclude a peace.

People ran through the houses of the taxmen, breaking open and looting everything, and throwing crates of money and expensive porcelain from the bridges into the water.

Contemporary local chronicler Braatbard suspected around two hundred men either got trampled or drowned.