The Privy Council or Secret Council (nl|Geheime Raad, fr|Conseil Privé) was one of the three "collateral councils" (along with the Council of Finance and Council of State) that together formed the highest government institutions of the Habsburg Netherlands.[1] Based in Brussels, it was particularly charged with legal and administrative questions.[2]
The Council was founded on 1 October 1531 by Emperor Charles V.[3] He prescribed a president, eight councillors, and a secretary.
Philip V of Spain abolished the council in 1702, but it was later restored by the archduchess-governess Maria Christina, Duchess of Teschen and finally abolished by the Brabant Revolution.