Joost van den Vondel was born on 17 November 1587 in the Große Witschgasse in Cologne, Holy Roman Empire. His parents were Mennonites from Antwerpian descent. In 1595, probably because of their religious conviction, they fled to Utrecht and from this town, eventually they settled in tolerant Amsterdam in the newly formed Dutch Republic.

At the age of 23 Vondel married Mayken de Wolff. Together they had four children, of which two died at a very young age. After the death of his father in 1608, Vondel managed the silk stockings shop the Vondels had on the Warmoesstraat in Amsterdam. In the meantime, he began to learn Latin and became acquainted with famous poets such as Roemer Visscher.

Around the year 1641 he was converted to Catholicism. This was a great shock to most of his fellow countrymen, because the main conviction and de facto state religion in the Republic was Calvinist Protestantism. It is still unclear why he became a Catholic, although his love for a Catholic lady may have played a role in this (Mayken de Wolff had died in 1635).

During his life he became one of the main advocates for religious tolerance. After the arrest, trial and the immediate beheading of the most important civilian leader of the States of Holland Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (1619) at the command of his, by then, enemy Prince Maurits of Nassau, and the Synod of Dort (1618—1619), the Calvinists had become the decisive religious power in the Republic. Public worship of Catholicism, Anabaptism and Arminianism was from then on officially forbidden; although worship in hidden houses of prayer was not persecuted. Vondel wrote many satires criticising the Calvinists and extolling Oldenbarnevelt. This, together with his new faith, made him an unpopular figure in Calvinist circles. He died a bitter man - though he was honoured by many fellow poets - on 5 February 1679.

As a legacy, Amsterdam's biggest park, the Vondelpark, bears his name, as well as his statue in the northern part of the park. The Dutch five guilder banknote bore Vondel's portrait from 1950 until its discontinuation in 1990.

It has often been suggested that John Milton drew inspiration from Lucifer (1654) and Adam in Ballingschap (1664) for his Paradise Lost (1667). In some respects the two works have similarities: the focus on Lucifer, the description of the battle in heaven between Lucifer’s forces and Michael’s, and the anti-climax as Adam and Eve need to leave Paradise.

These similarities however can be explained quite satisfactorily by assuming that they both drew inspiration from the Bible and perhaps Adamus exil from Hugo Grotius. Although it is certain that Milton knew some Dutch, because Roger Williams taught him in exchange for Hebrew lessons, it is to be doubted that Milton knew enough Dutch to understand the plays and at that time English translations of Vondel’s works did not exist. Lastly, both works differ in many points, mainly in the dialogues.

An example of similarity is the following:

"Here may we reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell.

Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven."

Milton's Paradise Lost

"Is ’t noodlot, dat ick vall’, van eere en staet berooft,Laet vallen, als ick vall’, met deze kroone op ’t hooft,Dien scepter in de vuist, dien eersleip van vertrouden,En zoo veel duizenden als onze zyde houden.Dat valle streckt tot eer, en onverwelckbren lof:En liever d’ eerste Vorst in eenigh laeger hof,Dan in ’t gezalight licht de tweede, of noch een minderZoo troost ick my de kans, en vrees nu leet noch hinder."

Translation:Is it fate that I will fall, robbed of honour and dignity,Then let me fall, if I were to fall, with this crown upon my headThis sceptre in my fist, this company of loyals,And as many as are loyal to our side.This fall would honour one, and give unwilting praise:And rather [would I be] foremost king in any lower court,Than rank second in most holy light, or even lessThus I justify my revolt, and will now fear pain nor hindrance.

Vondel's Lucifer