Early Life and Family Background

Willem Strijcker was born in Amsterdam in 1602, into a family tied to the city's practical trades. His father, Dirck Strijcker, worked as a brewer. In 1595, Dirck married Lysbeth Brasemans. This connection to the Brasemans name is reflected in the name Willem also used during his life, Brassemary.

The family's roots extended into the artistic circles of Haarlem through his mother. Her family included the miniaturist Jacobus Zaffius, a man who held a position as a provost of a chapter and was involved with the Reguliershof. This lineage placed Willem within a network of established figures, though his own path would be defined by the brush rather than the brewery. He grew up alongside two brothers, Dirck and Jacob.

Life and Activity in Amsterdam and Venice

The traces of his movement take him to Venice, where he was recorded in 1626. This period of his life remains largely quiet in the records, leaving little behind but the knowledge of his presence there. By 1653, he had returned to the domestic rhythms of Amsterdam. He married Jannetje Gerrits, known as Turckhooft, and the couple established their home near the Lutheran church. Their life was tied to the city's growing urban fabric, moving through the streets of the Dutch Republic as the decades passed.

His residence shifted as the years went by. In 1666, he was living in the Servetsteeg, located just behind Krasnapolsky. This was a time of settled existence, though his family connections remained tied to the city's various quarters. His brother Dirck had lived on the Lauriergracht, a location that placed the family within the heart of Amsterdam's social and professional circles. While his brother managed affairs related to the Mediterranean and the post office, Willem's own presence was marked by his work as a painter of landscapes and portraits.

His professional output included a significant contribution to the interior of the Amsterdam City Hall on the Dam. In 1657, he provided a mantelpiece painting for the Insurance Chamber, a room dedicated to maritime affairs. This work was placed in a space where his brother Dirck served as a secretary for sea insurance, linking their professional lives to the city's vital trade and maritime security.

Later Years and Death

By 1673, illness had begun to settle over Strijcker. He spent that year preparing a testament, a practical necessity as his health declined. The exact moment of his passing remains unclear, though records suggest he died sometime between 1673 and 1680. His absence left a void in the household that was eventually filled when his widow remarried in 1681.

The family continued their life in Amsterdam through his son, Willem Strijcker. Unlike his father's work with paint and canvas, the younger Willem made his living as a sailmaker. He lived at Kromme Waal 24, a place where the practical needs of the maritime city were met through the craft of stitching and rigging.