Vijftigjarige viering van de onafhankelijkheid van Nederland te Rotterdam 1863

This commemorative medal, crafted by P. Mansvelt & Zn, marks the 50th anniversary of Dutch independence in Rotterdam. Created in 1863, the medal reflects a period of national self-reflection. It evokes both pride and perhaps a degree of anxiety about the future. The imagery on the medal is overtly nationalistic, featuring a female personification of the Netherlands standing triumphantly. Symbols such as the Dutch lion and coat of arms are placed alongside her. These symbols assert Dutch identity and sovereignty. The medal was created for popular consumption. It provides insights into how national identity was constructed, visualized, and disseminated among the Dutch population. What does it mean to remember an event fifty years later? What is being emphasized and what is being left out? This medal invites us to consider how collective memory shapes national identity. It prompts us to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.