Constantijn Huygens was a Dutch poet and composer, Secretary to two Princes, and the father of the scientist Christiaan Huygens. He is often considered a member of what is known as the Muiderkring, a group of leading intellectuals gathered around Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, who met regularly at the castle of Muiden near Amsterdam. However, Huygens probably only visited on occasion. Huygens is arguably one of the most prolific poets of the Dutch Golden Age. He was also Secretary to two Princes of Orange: Frederick Henry and William II.

Near The Hague in the neighboring town Voorburg, Huygens built a small villa, called Hofwijck (Vitaulium in Latin), meant as a get-away from the Royal Court in The Hague. As a man of his era, Huygens played a large number of instruments (lute, gamba, harpsichord) for which he wrote a large number of musical pieces. He saw his love for music as more important than his literary activities, which he wrote in his limited free time. He is buried in the Grote Kerk in the Hague, together with — among other relatives — his son Christiaan Huygens.

In 1947 a literary award was created, the Constantijn Huygens Award, to honor his legacy.... More • http://en.wikipedia. ... jn_Huygens View • Books • Images • Videos • Search Related • Composers • Poets • Enlightenment • Literature • Music • Netherlands • Renaissance • September 04 • Virgo • Writers • 16th Century • 17th Century • People