List of chambers of rhetoric

A chamber of rhetoric was a civic society for the promotion of poetry, drama and eloquence. They also maintained literary contact between different towns, partly through competitions in which chambers from other places were invited to compete, producing a shared literary culture across different jurisdictions. Growing from medieval confraternities that performed mystery plays and miracle plays for feast days and civic festivals, they were widespread in the Low Countries during the Renaissance period, with some survivals and revivals in subsequent periods down to the present day. They were often named after flowers or patron saints.

The Rhetoricians, circa 1655, by Jan Steen. The painting depicts a rederijker reading his poem, while hanging over the balcony the blason of his chamber of rhetoric can be seen; in this case the Amsterdam society "Egelantier", whose symbol was a wild rose (egelantier) and whose motto was "In Liefde Bloeiend".

Printed invitation to other chambers of rhetoric by the Antwerp Violieren, for a landjuweel event, lasting 19 days, in 1561

The following list, arranged by the town, city, liberty or lordship in which a chamber was active, is incomplete.

Aalst

• Barbaristen
• Catharinisten

Aarschot

• Tervenbloesel

Amsterdam

• Egelantier
• Wit Lavendel

Antwerp

• Goudbloem
• Olyftack
• Violieren

Arendonk

• Heilig Groetsel

Asse

• Barbaristen

Bergen op Zoom

• Jonge Vreugdebloem

Breda

• Jonge Distelbloem
• Vreugdendal

Bruges

• Drie Santinnen
• Heilige Geest

Brussels

• Den Boeck
• Corenbloem
• Lelie
• Mariacransken
• Violette

Damme

• Annunciatie

Diest

• Christusogen
• Lelie

Dunkirk

• Sint-Michiel

Enghien

• Sint-Anna

Geel

• Bremblomme

Ghent

• Balsemblomme
• Fonteine
• Sint-Agnete
• Sint-Barbara

Goes

• Nardusbloem

Gouda

• Goudbloem

Haarlem

• Trou moet Blycken
• Witte Angieren
• Wyngaertranken

Hasselt

• Roose
• de Roode Roos
• Sint-Anna

Helmond

• Vlasbloem

's-Hertogenbosch

• Barbaristen
• Catharinisten
• Jonge Lauwerieren
• Moyses bosch
• Passiebloem
• Sint-Agatha

Hoboken

• Leliken van Calvarien

Leiden

• Oranjelelie

Leffinge

• Altoos Doende

Lier

• Jenettebloem

Leuven

• Lelie
• Peterseliepoot
• Roose

Maastricht

• Jonge Goudbloem

Mechelen

• Lisbloem
• Peoene

Mol

• Lindebloem

Mons

• réthoriciens de Notre-Dame

Nieuwpoort

• Doornenkroon

Ninove

• Witte Waterroose

Oudenaarde

• Jonge Retorike
• Pax vobis

Tienen

• Fonteine

Tongeren

• Witte Lelie

Tournai

• Puy d'amours

Turnhout

• Heybloemken

Valenciennes

• Notre Dame du Puy

Vilvoorde

• Goudbloem

Ypres

• Achtervroets
• Getrouw van herten
• Lichtgeladen
• Morianen
• Roziers
• Vreugdenaars

Zoutleeuw

• Lelikens uten Dale

Sources

• Prudens van Duyse, De rederijkkamers in Nederland, 2 vols. (Ghent, 1900–1902)
• A. A. Keersmaekers, Geschiedenis van de Antwerpse Rederijkerskamers in de jaren 1585–1635 (Aalst, 1952)
• Jan Thieullier, ed., De schadt-kiste der philosophen ende poeten waer inne te vinden syn veel schoone leerlycke blasoenen, refereynen ende liedekens gebracht ende gesonden op de Peoen-camere binnen Mechelen (Mechelen, Henry Jaye, 1621)
• Anne-Laure Van Bruaene, Het Repertorium van rederijkerskamers in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden en Luik 1400-1650 (online publication, 2004)