Carte des XVII Provinces des Pays Bas ... 1713

This is Charles Inselin’s map of the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands. Inselin, born in 1673, lived through a period of immense political and cultural change in Europe. Maps are never neutral; they reflect power. This map presents a particular vision of the Netherlands at a time when national identity and borders were fiercely contested. The detailed rendering emphasizes the importance of geographical knowledge for trade and governance, but it also reveals a worldview shaped by colonialism. Consider how the map invites us to think about place, belonging, and the ways in which cartography has historically been used to define and control territories. By understanding the map’s historical context, we can better appreciate how such images shape our perceptions of the world.