Jan II van Waesberghe

In the sixteenth century, the printing press was a powerful tool for spreading ideas but also risky in times of religious conflict. Jan van Waesberghe, born in 1528 in Antwerp, established a press in 1555 specializing in literary and religious works. His craftsmanship brought success — and danger.

During the Eighty Years’ War, tensions between Catholics and Protestants escalated. In 1569, Van Waesberghe was arrested for printing Protestant psalm books. He maintained he was Catholic—likely to save himself—but his situation remained precarious.

After Antwerp fell in 1585, he settled in Rotterdam, which had only four printing houses and a strong demand for skilled printers. He quickly became city printer and the official printer for the Admiralty on the Maas, ensuring financial stability.

His press became central to Rotterdam’s intellectual life. He printed works by luminaries like Erasmus, Gerbrand Bredero, and Jacob Cats. In later generations, the family firm expanded to Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Danzig.

His son, Jan II, born in 1556, took over and focused on schoolbooks—a smart choice in an age of rising education. His three sons later joined, and the business remained influential for over three centuries.

When the last Van Waesberghe died in 1870, a loyal employee continued the company. In 2001, it merged with another graphics firm—but the Van Waesberge name still endures in Rotterdam.