After the Prussian invasion of Holland in September 1787, followed by the fall of Amsterdam on 10 October 1787, Hooft voluntarily resigned as "burgemeester" and member of the "vroedschap". He remained a private citizen until his death in 1794. But that didn't mean that he abandoned politics. At first he went into voluntary exile until 1790. During this exile he became even more popular than before among the Patriot rank-and-file, who already had given him the honorific "Father Hooft". All kinds of objects were engraved with his likeness, like medals and wine glasses. After his return he made a tour of the Netherlands, visiting a number of Patriot strongholds where he was fêted by the people. He finally settled down with his sister Elisabeth, the widow of Wouter Valckenier, at her mansion "Valk en Heining" at Loenersloot. There his admirers came to visit him on his birthdays to drink his health. He died at "Valk en Heining" on 31 August 1794.