Aanleggen van het jaagpad langs de Zijl bij Leiden 1683

This silver medal was created by Jan Smeltzing in the late 17th century. It commemorates the construction of a towpath along the Zijl canal near Leiden. The medal encapsulates the intersection of commerce, infrastructure, and national identity in the Dutch Golden Age. On one side we see a detailed depiction of the Leiden skyline with its windmills, connected by the towpath to a network of waterways, facilitating trade and communication. This reflects the economic prosperity and innovative engineering that defined the era. The other side shows a female figure, possibly symbolizing navigation. This medal isn't merely a celebration of infrastructure, it’s a reflection of the values and aspirations of a society that saw itself as a global leader in trade and innovation. It reminds us of how deeply our identities are interwoven with the spaces and systems we create.