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.
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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
Arendonk
- Heilig Groetsel
Asse
- Barbaristen
Bergen op Zoom
- Jonge Vreugdebloem
Breda
- Jonge Distelbloem
- Vreugdendal
Bruges
- Drie Santinnen
- Heilige Geest
Brussels
- 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)