Isabella Agneta Elisabeth van Tuyll van Serooskerken, known as Belle van Zuylen was born at Slot Zuylen, a castle at the river Vecht near Utrecht in the Netherlands.

She was born October 20, 1740; Dutchwoman by her birth and her education, Switzerland by her marriage.

At age 31 on February 17, 1771, she married Charles Emmanuel de Charrière of Penthaz (1735-1808), gentleman of the country of Vaud, and a private teacher from Switzerland.

Together they made their ties with the Trigger guard, Colombier, close to Neuchâtel, where she died in December 1805.

Belle's artistic personality was extremely versatile; she wrote novels, pamphlets, poetry, and libretti; also, she painted striking miniature portraits; she played the harpsichord, pianoforte, and the harp.

Belle made the aquaintance of many immenent composers of her time; Belle asked Paisiello to write an aria for her opera L'Incognito; he could not make time for her so she asked Cimarosa (1749-1801) instead.

Overall, she was a brilliant woman of versatile abilities which brought her scandals, aquaintances, and marriage proposals.

When Jean-Jacque Rousseau past away, Belle defended his partner Theresa Levasseur against all criticism.