Birthplace of Gijsbertus Cuperus - Hemmen

Gijsbertus Cuperus (1644–1716), born in Hemmen, was an influential Dutch scholar. He played an important role in the Republic of Letters, an international network of scholars in the 17th century. He studied classical languages at the University of Leiden and specialised in antiquity. Thanks to his extensive knowledge of classical art, inscriptions and coins, he made an important contribution to classical philology with publications such as Observations sur les antiquités d'Utrecht.

Besides his work as a scholar, Cuperus played an active role in administration. He settled in Deventer, where he became mayor and promoted cultural life. He combined his political influence with his passion for knowledge and collected ancient manuscripts and objects, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of historical sources. His correspondence with thinkers such as Leibniz and Bayle made him a key figure in the intellectual exchange of his time.

Cuperus’ legacy lives on in the form of his letters and collections, which are preserved in national archives and museums. He is known as a connector between science and administration; a man who not only contributed to the study of antiquity, but also to the broader scientific climate in the Netherlands. His life and work show how a local administrator could exert international influence during the golden age of Dutch science.