Background
Her father Pieter Jansz Hooft was a nephew of the Amsterdam mayor Cornelis Pietersz.
Her father Pieter Jansz Hooft was a nephew of the Amsterdam mayor Cornelis Pietersz.
Hooft (28 December 1618 in Amsterdam – 30 September 1691 in Ilpendam) was a woman of the Dutch Golden Age. At the age of sixteen she married Cornelis de Graeff, nineteen years her senior and the most powerful regent and mayor of Amsterdam. Thus she became first lady of Soestdijk, one of the family"s country houses.
Catharina Hooft was also a Lady of the High and free Fief of Purmerland and Ilpendam.
Hooft and related to the renowned Professional Corporation Hooft of the Muiderslot - a wealthy citizen. On 14 August 1635 Catharina married Cornelis de Graeff, an older widower, whose first wife had been Catharina"s cousin (her father"s sister"s child).
The couple had themselves painted in princely fashion, in proper black with golden chains. Catharina bore two sons: Pieter and Jacob.
By the Acting of Seclusion William was not allowed to accede and power remained in the regents hands.
William bought the de Graeff hunting lodge and its surrounding fields, now the Soestdijk Palace, for only 18,755 guilder. She was buried in Amsterdam on October 6, 1691.