Tweehonderdste verjaardag van de Unie van Utrecht 1779

This silver medal commemorates the bicentennial of the Union of Utrecht and was created by Adrianus Martinus Josephus van Baerll. The medal encapsulates a pivotal moment in Dutch history, reflecting themes of unity and freedom. But what did this union mean for those excluded from its promises? The imagery on the medal, with its classical figure and symbolic lion, speaks to a narrative of strength and independence, yet it also hints at the power dynamics at play during the period. The inscription emphasizes freedom and unity which were central to the Union's ideology. Consider this medal as more than a celebration of the past. It's a lens through which we can examine the complexities of national identity, asking ourselves whose stories are being told, and whose are being left out.