Well written, informed popular history book on some of the more influential members of the Bicker family in the 16th and 17th century in Amsterdam and The Hague. Van der Vlugt relates a gender balanced history which is a mix between the big picture and day-to-day life of some of the wealthiest tradesmen, mayors and wives of the Amsterdam elite family of the Bickers. The second part of her story focuses mainly on Wendela Bicker(s) and her the Hague based husband Johan de Witt, who was the most powerful man in the Dutch republic between 1650 and 1672, when he was assassinated by the mob. There is a lot to learn from van der Vlugt’s book about such wide-ranging issues as religious strife, family life in the Golden Age of the Dutch Republic (with interesting tit bits about doll houses, birth, marital court cases, Sinterklaas, ice skating and the pest). The bit about the foreign (sea-borne) trade of Amsterdam merchants and regents and their wealth making strategies is unfortunately underplayed. Still van der Vlugt displays surprising agility in dealing with different sources (personal letters, court proceedings, and secondary literature on major historical events and buildings). A joy to read. ( )

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