Burgers van Haarlem werpen een ton met elf hoofden over de stadsmuur tijdens het beleg in 1573 1785 - 1787

Jacobus Buys made this drawing of the citizens of Haarlem throwing a barrel containing eleven heads over the city wall during the siege of 1573. This image vividly captures the brutal realities of the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. The artist, however, created this work some two centuries later in the Netherlands. It is significant because it reimagines a heroic episode from the Dutch struggle for independence. Buys uses visual cues, like the determined expressions and the dynamic action of hurling the barrel, to evoke a sense of defiance. The drawing should be understood through the lens of Dutch patriotism and national identity formation. The Rijksmuseum holds many such works, reminding us that national museums are key sites for constructing and preserving collective historical memory. By researching period accounts and visual representations of the siege, we can understand how this event became a symbol of Dutch resistance and resilience. The social and institutional context in which art is created and displayed shapes its meaning and enduring impact.