Paulus van Beresteyn

Paulus van Beresteyn (1582 – 1666), was a Dutch lawyer in Haarlem, known best today for his portrait painted by Frans Hals in 1619.

He rented the house on the Wijngaardstraat from the heirs of Arnout van Beresteyn (1556-1612), a family relation.

[2] Because later historians have attributed Catharina's pendant to Pieter Soutman, it is unclear whether this portrait was first prepared by Hals, whose portrait of Paulus matches the pendant in many respects.

Catharina also features in the Beresteyn family portrait, which includes their daughter Emerantia and son Claes.

All of these portraits hung in the Hofje van Beresteyn thanks to their son Claes who founded it.