REGENTS

Regents: translation

Political group of persons who constituted the local mag istrates and city councils (vroedschappen). During the 17th and 18th centuries, they were an oligarchy who held office by co-optation. As a social “class,” they maintained their position largely through inter marriage. Famous families included the Bickers from Amsterdam and the Fagelsfrom The Hague. The boards of orphanages and other social institutions were also called regents. The regents often had their portraits painted in the 16th to 19th centuries.