Sluiting van het Twaalfjarig Bestand tussen de Republiek en Spanje, rekenpenning geslagen op last van de rekenkamer van Zeeland 1609

This is a silver token commemorating the end of the Twelve Years' Truce between the Dutch Republic and Spain. It was commissioned by the Chamber of Accounts of Zeeland. The Truce, signed in 1609, temporarily halted the Eighty Years' War, a conflict deeply entwined with religious and political identity. For the Dutch, this war was about independence and the freedom to practice Protestantism in the face of Spanish Catholic rule. The token embodies these tensions. The image of the two figures shaking hands seems peaceful on the surface, but it belies a more complex reality. What does it mean to declare peace while fundamental differences remain unresolved? What about those for whom peace was not possible? These questions highlight how historical narratives are often selective, obscuring the experiences of marginalized people. Ultimately, this token is not just a historical artifact; it's a reminder of how peace is fragile and that the stories we tell about it matter.