Joost van den Vondel

Joost van den Vondel was a Dutch playwright, poet, literary translator and writer. He is generally regarded as the greatest writer in the Dutch language as well as an important figure in the history of Western literature. In his native country, Vondel is often called the “Prince of Poets” and the Dutch language is sometimes referred to as “the language of Vondel”. His oeuvre consists of 33 plays, a large number of poems in different genres and forms, an epic poem and many translations of predominantly classical literature. Vondel lived in the Dutch Republic during the Eighty Years' War and became the leading literary figure of the Dutch Golden Age.

17 November 1587

Born on the same birth day (17 November): August Ferdinand Möbius • Bernd Schneider (footballer) • Camillo Felgen • Charles Mackerras • Danielle Kettlewell • Eli Marrero • Elías Díaz • Hollie Smith • Hubertus Brandenburg • Jay Bradley • Jim Inhofe • Mitch Williams • Nani (footballer) • Rock Hudson • Ryan Braun • Sean Miller • Taylor Gold • Terry Branstad

Born in the same month (November 1587): Samuel Scheidt • Sir Gervase Clifton, 1st Baronet