Johannes Rietstap

His first job was at a bookstore, and he was then shortly assigned to a position on the newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant.

Shortly after this, Rietstap married Johanna Maria de Haas on 16 September 1857.

He translated works of non-fiction, historical and romantic novels, and travel journals in French, German, and English.

As word spread of the publication, he made more heraldic contacts around Europe and was able to expand the work to two volumes in 1884 and 1887.

In the 1880s Rietstap also published two studies of the genealogy and coats of arms of the Dutch nobility, the Wapenboek der Nederlandschen Adel (Armory of the Dutch Nobility) which became available between 1880 and 1887 and De Wapens van den Tegenwoordigen en den Vroegeren Nederlandschen Adel met Genealogische en Heraldische Aanteekeningen (The Arms of Present and Past Dutch Nobility with Genealogical and Heraldic Annotations) published in 1890.

In the prologue of this work, Rietstap continued his critique of the development of spelling in the Dutch language and heraldic blazon.

He brought the development of European heraldry within reach of the Dutch language through translations and editorials.