Jan Pieterszoon Koppestok was a ferryman who worked between Maassluis and Brielle in the sixteenth century. His surname is also spelled Koppestock, Coppestock or Coppelstock.
Stained glass window for Jan Pieterz. Coppelstock, in the St. Catharijnekerk in Brielle
In 1572, Sea Beggars sought a confrontation with Spanish supporters off the Dutch coast as privateers. Needed to replenish their supplies, they decided to take a city, mainly for the purpose of plundering it.
According to tradition, Koppestok told one of the leaders of the Beggars, Willem Bloys van Treslong, on April 1, 1572, that there was no Spanish garrison in the port city of Brielle. The ferryman was then asked to summon Mayor Koekebakker on behalf of the Beggars to surrender the city to them. Koppestok claimed on the town hall that there were 5000 Beggars in front of the city, although in reality there were far fewer. The mayor refused to surrender, whereupon the commander of the Beggars, Lumey, claimed the city for himself and had the North Gate besieged. A number of people were able to flee through the South Gate, but when an ultimatum had expired, that gate was also stormed. The city was plundered and various atrocities were committed, in July 1572 the martyrs of Gorcum would be murdered by Protestants.
Due to the capture of Den Briel, which took place against the will of William of Orange, the Duke of Alva, the Spanish governor and army leader in the Netherlands, lost prestige and the impetus was given to the conquest of more cities from the Spaniards.
The song In the name of Orange, open the gate, also known as A song from Koppestok, den ferryman, romanticizes the events surrounding the capture of Den Briel. Abraham Schooleman wrote this song in 1872 on the occasion of the tricentennial commemoration of the capture of Den Briel.