Antonius de Heyde

Physician from Middelburg

died in Amsterdam

De Heyde was one of the three Dutch people, along with Leeuwenhoek and Swammerdam, who published about their observations through single-lens microscopes. Toward the end of their lives, both De Heyde and Swammerdam abandoned their professional lives under the influence of the mystic Antoinette Bourignon.

De Heyde, George Garden, and Antoinette Bourignon are listed as authors of this 1699 English-language tract:

An apology for M. Antonia Bourignon: in four parts. I. An abstract of her sentiments, and a character of her writings. II. An answer to the prejudices raised against them. III. The evidences she brings of her being led by the spirit of God; with her answers to the prejudices opposed thereunto. To which is added, A dissertation of Dr. De Heyde, on the same subject. IV. An abstract of her life. To which are added, two letters from different hands, containing remarks on the preface to The snake in the grass and Bourignianism detected. As also, some of her own letters, whereby her true Christian spirit and sentiments are farther justified and vindicated; particularly as to the doctrine of the merits and satisfaction of Jesus Christ.

There is no evidence of direct contact between Leeuwenhoek and De Heyde, though Huib Zuidervaart's article on De Heyde has a section discussing the similarities in their lives.