Developing a board game set in Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age. Everything is coming together - trade, world events, state and provincial politics, but I'm having trouble finding much about politics at the city level.
I've been looking around online, and the most I can find is that Amsterdam in the first half of the 17th century was governed by a merchant oligarchy of "regents". This article from UNCP names the offices of sheriff, burgomaster, alderman, and city councilor, but doesn't go into much more detail than that.
I'm curious to know what the structure of the oligarchy was like. Who was in charge? Was there a city charter or official document which laid out how everything was to be organized and conducted, or was it more informal and ad-hoc? What was a burgomaster or alderman, and what were they responsible for? How did the city government answer to the States of Holland or the States-General?
Any books you might recommend?
Thanks!
EDIT: Just in case anyone finds this thread someday and is interested, I found a source of information in this digitized copy of Modern History Vol. II by Thomas Salmon, 1745. I'm not sure how much had changed in Amsterdam by the time this was written, but it seems to match up with the UNCP article.
Page 164 is particularly helpful:
Senate:
The sovereign power of this city is lodged in six and thirty Senators who continue members of this assembly for life and when one or more of them dies the remaining Senators elect others in their room the people having no share in the nomination or choice so that as Sir W Temple observes this is far from being a popular government at this day though it might be so esteemed an hundred and fifty years ago when the Senators were chosen by a majority of the principal Burghers who were about that time wheedled to transfer their right of election to the Senate and their example was followed by the rest of the towns of the province who differ in little else but the number of their Senators
Burgomasters:
The Senate elects the deputies to be sent to the States of Holland and appoints the chief Magistrates of the city namely the Burgomasters and Eschevins who are said to resemble the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London The Burgomaster's are four in number of which three are chosen annually one of them always remaining in office two years but the three last chosen are stiled the reigning Burgomasters for the year and preside by turns after the first three months for so long after a new election the Burgomaster of the preceding year presides in which time the new ones have an opportunity of being instructed in the forms and duties of their office It is by a majority of such persons in the Senate as have been Burgomasters or Eschevins that the new Burgomasters are chosen and these represent the government of the city on all occasions and dispose of all inferior offices that fall during their administration they issue all money also out of the treasury for the publick service and may properly be looked upon to have the executive power as the whole senate have the legislative They have the inspection also of all the publick buildings and fortifications about the city and direct them to be repaired or improved as they fee occasion.
Aldermen:
The Eschevins or Aldermen constitute a court justice in every town There are nine in of Amsterdam of whom seven are chosen an J c two of the preceding year remaining in a double number of candidates being no by the Senate the Burgomasters have of those that hall serve and they are sole in all criminal cases but in civil there lies appeal to the court of Justice of the province the thing in dispute be of a considerable value they never pronounce sentence of death first communicating the matter to the but when they have complied this form they proceed to give judgment and are not obliged to be determined the Burgomasters opinion.
Others:
The Officers subordinate to these supreme Magistrates are 1: The Treasurer who receives and issues all money arising from the revenues of the city The Scout or Sheriff who is conservator of the peace apprehends criminals and sees sentences of the courts of Justice put in execution 2: The pensioner who is a person well versed in the civil law and the customs of the city whom the magistracy advise with in cases intricacy and rely upon to defend their rights and privileges in disputes with other cities and powers He delivers messages also from the Burgomasters and Senate and makes speeches and replies on all solemn occasions and is therefore said to resemble the Recorder of an English corporation.
You may want to check out Russell Shorto's Amsterdam knowing him it will explain the goevernment of the city. I can't give you a sourced answer yet (this book is currently on it's way to my house), but what I remember from my school years government in the Dutch Republic was still the way it was in the Middle Ages. In the case of Amsterdam that would mean a council of free "poorters", citizens in English. These were elected by the free poorters from amongst themselves, of course there were some requirements to become a poorter, mainly financial and religious.
That council would chose a number of "burgermeesters", mayors in English and other magistrates. These would be the daily government. The council would also choose the cities representatives in the States of the Province, and ultimately the representatives in the States General, which governed the Republic. Amsterdam was of special importance, because on it's own it held the majority in the States of Holland, and since the States of Holland had the majority of votes in the States General, Amsterdam was very influential on the Foreign policies of the Republic. Please use this not as fact, this is what I remember from school some thirty years ago, but it may aid in your research.
Just stumbled upon this one but have you tried the Historisch Museum in Amsterdam? I went there a few years ago and it is amazing.
I recall another book that might be helpful, which is Tulipomania, it doesnt go into depth about the politics of the city but does give a decent background to the merchant side of things.
I've also read a book William the Silent which would be just before the Golden Age but gives a good run up of how the burgermeesters were selected, etc.