Relletjes voor het huis van de Engelse consul te Amsterdam, 1688 1779 - 1781

Simon Fokke created this etching, "Riots in front of the house of the English consul in Amsterdam, 1688," well over a half century after the depicted events. This work allows us to reflect on Dutch society and its relationship with England at the time. This print throws us right into the heat of the riots. The anger of the Dutch citizens is almost palpable. They are seen pelting stones at the English consul’s home, and even hanging effigies, their collective identity forged in opposition to English policies. The riots depicted here were rooted in deep-seated political and religious tensions. The Dutch, largely Protestant, viewed the Catholic leanings of the English King James II with suspicion. It captures a moment when popular sentiment clashed with political power, revealing the intertwined nature of national identity, religious belief, and political allegiance. The raw emotion captured here serves as a reminder of the powerful forces that shape history and the importance of understanding the past to navigate the present.