Vrede van Rijswijk 1697

This medal commemorating the Peace of Rijswijk was created by Jan Boskam, a Dutch medalist who died very young at the age of 21. The Treaty of Rijswijk in 1697 marked the end of the Nine Years' War, a major European conflict, yet Boskam’s medal is more than a historical marker; it's a complex negotiation of Dutch identity, power, and the desire for peace. The crowned lion, a symbol of Dutch strength, dominates one side, while the other depicts the Huis ter Nieuburch in Rijswijk, where the treaty was signed. Boskam’s choice to represent both military might and diplomatic resolution encapsulates the dual nature of peace—secured through power, but achieved through dialogue. The medal invites us to reflect on the costs of war, and the emotional relief that comes with peace, while subtly reminding us that such peace is often built upon complex power dynamics.