Engeltje, the first person insured by the Hollandsche Societeit
In 1907, Mr W.J.M. Westerwoudt, the general manager of the Hollandsche Societeit van Levensverzekeringen, acquired this painting created in 1793 by Cornelis van Cuylenburg II. The subject of this painting, 20-year-old Engeltje, holds a special place in history as the first person insured by the Hollandsche Societeit in 1807, the year of its foundation.
Born on 14 February 1773 in Ostzaan, Engeltje’s portrait was commissioned to celebrate her first marriage. Tragically, her husband passed away shortly after the birth of their daughter. Years later, Engeltje remarried Mr Jan Nagel, who signed a life insurance for her worth 50,000 Dutch guilders—an extraordinary amount for the time, equivalent to approximately EUR 375,000 today. The annual premium was about 1,500 guilders.
Unfortunately, we have no further information about this remarkable insurance contract. It is unclear whether it matured, lapsed or was surrendered. What we do know is that Engeltje Nagel passed away in Amsterdam on 29 December 1856 at the age of 83, 49 years after the life insurance was taken out.
