Vrede van Munster 1648

Sebastian Dadler created this silver medal, called 'Vrede van Munster', in the mid-seventeenth century. This small object commemorates a pivotal moment in European history – the Peace of Münster in 1648. It ended the Eighty Years' War between the Dutch Republic and Spain, formally recognizing Dutch independence. Look closely, and you'll see allegorical figures. The Dutch Lion rests, no longer burdened by war. Peace stands triumphant, holding a caduceus, symbolising commerce and negotiation. In the background, a city skyline alludes to Münster, where the treaty was signed. The inscriptions are in Latin and Dutch. Such references were part of the visual codes of the time, understood by educated elites who commissioned and collected these medals. These objects played a role in shaping public memory and national identity. To understand them fully, we can consult diplomatic records, personal letters, and the emblem books that defined the symbolic language of the era. In doing so we uncover the subtle ways art and politics were intertwined.