Beleg van Oostende omstreeks het einde van 1603 1603

Floris Balthasarsz van Berckenrode's "Beleg van Oostende omstreeks het einde van 1603" is a detailed 1603 engraving depicting the Siege of Ostend, a pivotal event in the Eighty Years' War. The artist meticulously portrays the fortified city of Ostend and its surrounding landscape, showcasing the strategic importance of this port during the conflict. This piece, housed in the Rijksmuseum, demonstrates the artistic style of the era, using intricate lines and hatching to render the scene. The composition is dominated by a bird's-eye view of Ostend, capturing the intense military maneuvers and the city's defensive structures. Through its meticulous depiction of the Siege of Ostend, van Berckenrode's engraving provides a valuable historical record and offers insight into the military tactics and urban planning of the 17th century.