Klaas Sybrandi

Who is Klaas Sybrandi?

Klaas Sybrandi, also spelled as Sijbrandi, was a Dutch Mennonite minister, author, translator and involved with several societies and foundations.

Sybrandi was born as son of the Haarlem Mennonite minister Sybren Klazes Sybrandi and enjoyed a privileged education. First he attended Latin school in Haarlem, and was then, 17 years of age, admitted 'with high expectations' at the Kweekschool der algemeene Doopsgezinde Societeit te Amsterdam where he developed an affection for classical literature - supposedly larger than his interest in theology. In 1827 he was promoted to doctor in literature at the Leidsche Hoogeschool.

In 1830 he became minister of the Mennonite congregation in Nijmegen, in 1832 he refused a position in Middelburg but in 1834 he did accept a new position in Groningen, a university city in the north of the country, to lead the congregation there. In 1838 he finally moved back to his home town to become minister at the Doopsgezinde kerk, Haarlem. Already in Nijmegen he published some works about literature and in Groningen he made friends under the university teachers there. In 1841 his work Verhandeling over Vondel en Shakespear als Treurspeldichters was awarded a gold medal by Teylers Tweede Genootschap and he became main editor of Konst- en Letterbode until 1853. He initially only planned to do this for a short while but then continued to do so and wrote many pieces for the literary magazine - several of which anonymously.