Why did Lucas de Heere flee from the southern Netherlands?

Lucas de Heere fled from the southern Netherlands for religious reasons. During the 16th century, the region experienced significant turmoil due to the Reformation, which led to widespread religious persecution and the rise of various Protestant movements, including Calvinism. As the Spanish government intensified its efforts to suppress heresy and maintain control, many intellectuals and artists—including de Heere, Carel van Mander, and Jan Baptista van der Noot—sought refuge elsewhere to escape the political and religious repression of the time.12