Eerste vergadering van de Oeconomische Tak te Haarlem, 1778 after 1778

This 18th-century engraving by Simon Fokke depicts the first meeting of the Dutch Economic Society in Haarlem. The detailed etching shows a large hall, likely the “Zaal van het Directe Huis” (Hall of the Director’s House), filled with members of the society. The scene captures the formal atmosphere of the gathering, with rows of seated figures, and a sense of importance given to the subject matter. The work, now part of the Rijksmuseum collection, provides a glimpse into the history of Dutch economic thought and organization.