As Scaliger had predicted, Grotius would eventually become the Pensionary of a Dutch town. In 1613, he took the next step in his already impressive career and became Pensionary of Rotterdam, at this stage the seventh city of the Republic. This portrait of Grotius was made by Claes Jansz. Visscher and shows him in his role of ‘Pencionaris der Stat Rotterdam’, the highest official that served the city, mainly in an advisory role on judicial and political matters. Although Grotius was delighted with his important and lucrative new position, he did remain attached to The Hague, to the extent that he had a clause added to his contract that he was allowed to stay and work in The Hague from time to time until a new advocate-fiscal had been appointed.
C.J. Visscher, Portrait of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt as pensionary, print, c.1613 .