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.
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
Antwerp Goudbloem Olyftack Violieren
Arendonk Heilig Groetsel
Asse Barbaristen
Bergen op Zoom Jonge Vreugdebloem
Breda Jonge Distelbloem Vreugdendal
Bruges Drie Santinnen Heilige Geest
Brussels Den 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 Het kersouwken (Pamele)
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)