Jan Pannebakkerhof
Canon 5Ds | EF 15mm fish eye | 11 photos | 1/50 - f/6.3 - iso 200
Jan Franciscus Pannebakker was the first mayor of Waalwijk, although at the time the position was still known as *maire*.
Jan was born in Gorinchem in 1747. As the son of a *schepen* (a local public official), he was introduced to politics from an early age. However, he put an end to his budding political career before it had really begun when he married a Belgian Catholic woman. Jan converted to her faith, which brought his early political ambitions to an end. He was forced to settle in Waalwijk, where he worked as a merchant dealing in salt and grain.
Nevertheless, political talent ran in his blood, and even in Waalwijk he could not escape his calling. Although he was an outsider who did not originate from the region, he was often able to calm discontent among the people of Waalwijk.
He was able to channel some of his political ambitions through the Waalwijk Patriots' movement, which campaigned for political equality.
In 1795, he became the *drossaard* of Waalwijk, an administrative official responsible for a particular area. He held this position until 1808. During that period, he was active not only in local politics but also at provincial and even national level.
In 1810, the French took control of the Netherlands and introduced the office of mayor in municipalities. Jan Pannebakker was the right choice for Waalwijk. That same year, Waalwijk and Besoijen were also merged, making Pannebakker the *maire* (mayor) of Waalwijk.
However, his time in the position lasted only one year. In 1811, he was offered the position of *juge de paix*, or justice of the peace, a type of judge whose primary role was to help parties reach settlements. He did not hold this position for long either: Jan Pannebakker died on 31 March 1812.
