Talk:Johan de Witt

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Shouldn't this be Jan de Witt? I've always seen it as such. john k 07:11, 22 Jun 2005 (UTC)

You are right. And you are mistaken :o) For many centuries Dutch children have been given christian names that are never used in everyday life. The official names are spoken at the baptism, their marriage and their funeral — and never in between. Of course this phenomenon exists in other European countries also, but the Dutch carry it to extremes. Hence the joke: "We proudly announce the birth of our son Quintus Theophilus, we'll call him Bartje". So Johannes de Witt was Jantje as a boy and Jan when a grown man. His brother Cornelis was known first as Keesje and later Kees. Still in a historical account, the Dutch tend to use the official name. This has been rather common for Johan de Witt also, though the name is in a slightly more vernacular form, which should perhaps be seen as sign of endearment, like the stadtholders are never called Wilhelmus, nor the too common Wim, but Willem.

--MWAK 17:32, 23 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Killing

In the article is said that Cornelis was disembowled while alive. Is there a source for this? According to H.H. Rowen, biographer of De Witt, the brothers were killed immediately outside the prison (as planned) and afterwards their bodies where mutulated, probably not planned.
Rowen, H.H., "Johan de Witt. Staatsman van de 'Ware Vrijheid" published in Leiden in 1985. Scafloc 18:59, 19 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Exhibition

According to the article "the heart of Cornelis de Witt was exhibited for many years next to his brother's by Dirck Verhoeff". Is there any source for this? If not, I think this statement should be removed. Brederode (talk) 08:53, 1 March 2008 (UTC)