Cadettenschool te Alkmaar 1893

This photograph of the Cadettenschool in Alkmaar was taken in 1885 by C. van der Aa and J. Chrispijn. It captures the school while still under construction. The image offers a glimpse into the social and institutional priorities of the Netherlands at the time. Military academies were important institutions for training future leaders and maintaining social order. The construction of this school reflects a commitment to these values. The building's architecture, with its emphasis on symmetry and order, reinforces the ideals of discipline and hierarchy associated with military training. The photograph also highlights the role of institutions in shaping artistic production. Van der Aa and Chrispijn were commissioned to document the construction of the school. Their work becomes part of the institutional narrative, reinforcing the importance of military education in Dutch society. To fully understand the photograph, historians might consult archival documents related to the construction of the school, as well as studies of military education and social class in the Netherlands during the late 19th century. The meaning of the image is contingent on understanding the social and institutional context in which it was made.