Radicale democratie: Pieter Vreede (1750-1837) en de Nederlandse Revolutie

Alkemade, D.G.A. (2025)

Doctoral Thesis

This dissertation examines the life and political thought of Pieter Vreede (1750–1837), a radical democrat from Leiden who was central to the Dutch Revolution. Rather than focusing solely on abstract political theory, the study takes a biographical approach to show how democracy was reimagined in late 18th-century Netherlands.
Vreede, from a wealthy Mennonite family in Leiden, was influenced by Enlightenment ideas and the American Revolution. He became a prominent critic of the Orangist regime during the Patriot Revolt, promoting direct democracy and organizing Patriot militias. Though the movement was crushed in 1787, Vreede returned in 1795 with French support, helping to found the Batavian Republic.
Vreede played a key role in implementing revolutionary reforms, particularly in Brabant, and emerged as a leading figure in the new Dutch parliament. He advocated universal male suffrage, abolition of slavery, and a centralized state. In 1798, he led a coup that resulted in the Netherlands’ first constitution, introducing broad political rights. However, his radical rule was short-lived; a counter-coup ousted him months later. Vreede's later life was spent in obscurity, yet his efforts helped lay the foundation for Dutch democracy. The study repositions Vreede as a pivotal, though controversial, figure in European revolutionary history.

• Pieter Vreede
• Revolution
• Radicalism
• Democracy
• Political history
• Dutch history
• Age of revolution
• Liberty
• Political radicalism
• Republicanism

• All authors: Alkemade, D.G.A.
• Supervisor: Velde, H. te; Oddens, J.
• Committee: Pollmann, J.; Honings, R.; Smit, D.; Graaf, B. de; Velema, W.; Rosendaal, J.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Leiden University Institute of History, Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University
• Date: 2025-06-18