Willem van Oldenbarnevelt

He left for Paris in late 1607, together with his brother Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt, for his Grand Tour, an educational journey abroad in order to complete his study at the Dutch university, but also to become familiar with the morals of the higher classes in other countries.

On August 7, 1608, Willem was appointed a gentleman-ordinary of King Henry IV, which gave him a salary of 3000 Dutch guilders, a post that was probably given for political reasons.

Nonetheless, William remained a passionate fan of Jeu de Paume, and wasted his entire salary at the tennis court.

Willem conspired with amongst others his brother Reinier van Oldenbarnevelt and the Remonstrant preacher Hendrick Danielsz Slatius to assassinate Maurice of Orange, who was responsible for the death of his father.

These letters showed that Willem had hoped to one day return to the Republic, that he had remained a Protestant and had not taken service in the Spanish army.