Vijftigjarige viering van de bevrijding van Deventer 1864

This is a commemorative medal celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Deventer's liberation from French occupation. It was created by David van der Kellen. The medal embodies Dutch national identity through its imagery. A heraldic lion, a symbol of Dutch courage and resilience, stands proudly with a shield bearing the coat of arms. The inscription on the reverse, framed by a wreath, memorializes the liberation date, the 26th of April, 1814. This medal would have served as a potent symbol, reinforcing collective memory and national pride. But objects like these can also remind us to consider the complexities of history, asking us to reflect on who is included and excluded from the narrative of liberation and national identity. It encourages us to think critically about how historical events are remembered and celebrated, and whose stories are centered in those celebrations.