The Hague played an important part in Grotius’ life: it was where his career began, where he and Maria started their family and where eventually his trial would be held. By 1599 The Hague was already the most important city of the Dutch Republic in terms of political power: it hosted the legislative, executive, and judiciary bodies of the wealthy and powerful province of Holland, as well as the States-General, the legislative body deciding on federal affairs. It was also the seat of Maurice of Orange, the son of the country’s founding father William of Orange. As the Stadtholder, Maurice was officially a civil servant and the military commander in chief, but his considerable political power was kept in check by other important political figures, most notably Oldenbarnevelt. When Grotius first moved to The Hague, he took lodgings with Johannes Uytenbogaert, a minister at Maurice’s Calvinist court, who was to become a lifelong friend and a major figure in events to come.
J.J. van Harn, C. Bos, Caerte van 's Gravenhage, map, 1616 [COLLBN Port 16 N 51]