Nicolaas van Nieuwland
Encyclopedia
Nicolaas van Nieuwland was bishop
of Haarlem
and abbot
of Egmond Abbey from 1562 to 1569.
(where Erasmus was educated) to a Double monastery
(also housing the Bridgettines
) in Gouda. The former home of the reguliers in Land van Steyn, (:nl:Klooster Emmaüs te Stein), had been lost in a fire in 1549. The convent they moved to in Gouda, was renovated for them by order of George van Egmond
and the former sacristy
was remodeled into a choir which housed eleven stained glass windows (today on display in seven windows in the Janskerk (Gouda) in the extra room called the Van der Vorm kapel). Despite these renovations, the Regulierskerk did not survive long after that, because the monastery reverted to the state after the Protestant Reformation
in 1580 and the church was torn down. For centuries the Catholic Hofje
(:nl:Hofje van Buytenwech), which was founded on the grounds of the monastery in 1563, was allowed to remain on the Raam in Gouda, but this too was finally torn down in 1958.
In 1580, before destroying the Regulierschurch, the expensive stained glass windows and the accompanying cartoons were moved to the Janskerk, where they were most recently restored in 1922 and given a separate chapel.
. Van Nieuwland also became abbot of Egmond Abbey at the same time.
At the time that Van Nieuwland was in Haarlem, the Protestant Reformation
was gaining ground in the Northern Netherlands, and Haarlem was a seat of unrest due to the school there under the leadership of Dirck Volckertszoon Coornhert
. Van Nieuwland was faced with a slowly shrinking Catholic population as the townspeople reverted to Protestantism
and followed Coornhert, who sided with Lamoral, Count of Egmont
and William the Silent
, against the Catholic leaders of Van Nieuwland, the newly appointed Frederik V Schenck van Toutenburg
, who received his orders from Philip II of Spain
. Van Nieuwland's protector George van Egmond had died in 1559.
Perhaps because of these developments, he became an alcoholic, and is registered as walking in processions drunk, earning him the local nickname Dronken Klaasje. He was asked to step down in 1569, and he was replaced by Godfried van Mierlo
. Van Nieuwland returned to Utrecht, where he later died.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
and abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of Egmond Abbey from 1562 to 1569.
Biography
Van Nieuwland became bishop when he was still young. He became titular bishop of Hebron in 1541. He was also assistant bishop of Utrecht.Move of the Reguliers
In 1550 he managed the move of the Reguliers, monks from the monastery in Stein, South HollandStein, South Holland
Stein is a small village in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Vlist, and lies about 5 km east of Gouda....
(where Erasmus was educated) to a Double monastery
Double monastery
A double monastery is an institution combining a separate monastery for monks and an abbey for nuns. Examples include Coldingham Monastery in Scotland, and Einsiedeln Abbey and Fahr Abbey in Switzerland, controlled by the abbot of Einsiedeln...
(also housing the Bridgettines
Bridgettines
The Bridgettine or Birgittine Order is a monastic religious order of Augustinian nuns, Religious Sisters and monks founded by Saint Birgitta of Sweden in approximately 1350, and approved by Pope Urban V in 1370...
) in Gouda. The former home of the reguliers in Land van Steyn, (:nl:Klooster Emmaüs te Stein), had been lost in a fire in 1549. The convent they moved to in Gouda, was renovated for them by order of George van Egmond
George van Egmond
George or Joris van Egmont was bishop of Utrecht from 1534 to 1559.-Biography:George was the son of Jan III van Egmont. In 1526 he became canon and later deacon of the chapter of Liège...
and the former sacristy
Sacristy
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...
was remodeled into a choir which housed eleven stained glass windows (today on display in seven windows in the Janskerk (Gouda) in the extra room called the Van der Vorm kapel). Despite these renovations, the Regulierskerk did not survive long after that, because the monastery reverted to the state after the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in 1580 and the church was torn down. For centuries the Catholic Hofje
Hofje
A hofje is a Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it. They have existed since the Middle Ages.A hofje provided housing for elderly people . They were privately funded, and served as a form of social security...
(:nl:Hofje van Buytenwech), which was founded on the grounds of the monastery in 1563, was allowed to remain on the Raam in Gouda, but this too was finally torn down in 1958.
In 1580, before destroying the Regulierschurch, the expensive stained glass windows and the accompanying cartoons were moved to the Janskerk, where they were most recently restored in 1922 and given a separate chapel.
Diocese Haarlem
In 1559 a new diocese was introduced, the diocese Haarlem, and Nicolaas van Nieuwland became bishop of this new diocese on November 6, 1561. He entered the city on February 1, 1562 with a formal processionProcession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
. Van Nieuwland also became abbot of Egmond Abbey at the same time.
At the time that Van Nieuwland was in Haarlem, the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
was gaining ground in the Northern Netherlands, and Haarlem was a seat of unrest due to the school there under the leadership of Dirck Volckertszoon Coornhert
Dirck Volckertszoon Coornhert
Dirck Volckertszoon Coornhert was a Dutch writer, philosopher, translator, politician and theologian. Coornhert is often considered the Father of Dutch Renaissance scholarship.-Biography:...
. Van Nieuwland was faced with a slowly shrinking Catholic population as the townspeople reverted to Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
and followed Coornhert, who sided with Lamoral, Count of Egmont
Lamoral, Count of Egmont
Lamoral, Count of Egmont, Prince of Gavere was a general and statesman in the Habsburg Netherlands just before the start of the Eighty Years' War, whose execution helped spark the national uprising that eventually led to the independence of the Netherlands.The Count of Egmont headed one of the...
and William the Silent
William the Silent
William I, Prince of Orange , also widely known as William the Silent , or simply William of Orange , was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was born in the House of...
, against the Catholic leaders of Van Nieuwland, the newly appointed Frederik V Schenck van Toutenburg
Frederik V Schenck van Toutenburg
Frederik Schenck van Toutenburg was the first archbishop of Utrecht .-Biography:The son of Georg Schenck van Toutenburg, he graduated in law at the Reichskammergericht in Speyer...
, who received his orders from Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
. Van Nieuwland's protector George van Egmond had died in 1559.
Perhaps because of these developments, he became an alcoholic, and is registered as walking in processions drunk, earning him the local nickname Dronken Klaasje. He was asked to step down in 1569, and he was replaced by Godfried van Mierlo
Godfried van Mierlo
Godfried van Mierlo was bishop of Haarlem and abbot of Egmond Abbey from 1570 to 1578.-Biography:...
. Van Nieuwland returned to Utrecht, where he later died.