Westerbaen was born in
The Hague, the son of a rope maker, and was initially schooled in the Staten-College, then as secretary and preacher of the
Remonstrants of the
Synod of Dort. There, he studied medicine, after which he established himself in 1623 as a physician in the Hague. Two years later, he married
Anna Weytsen, the widow of
Reinier van Groenevelt, despite opposition from her noble family. He was a good friend of
Constantijn Huygens. Later, he came into contact with
Jacob Cats,
Blasius (1639–1672) and
Jan Vos (ca. 1610–1667), becoming good friends with all three. When
Oldenbarnevelt was executed for political reasons, Westerbaen retained possession of the victim's walking stick, inspiring the Republic's great poet,
Vondel, to his famous poem '
t Stockske ("The Little Walking-Stick"). Westerbaen wanted to apply for work elsewhere:
Ockenburgh near Loosduinen, where he lived from 1652 until his death. He described it in a poem imitating the style of Huygens. He fought fiercely against orthodox preachers, for instance in writings such as
Krancken-Troost voor Israel in Holland ("Comfort for a Sick Israel in Holland") and wrote and translated plays, mostly comedies. :(I have Comedians play here of a night, :And fear not Hague, nor Court, nay, not even Pulpit: :The Theatre here is free.) ==Works==