's-Hertogenbosch tevergeefs belegerd door Maurits, 1603 1603 - 1605

Pieter van der Keere made this etching of 's-Hertogenbosch in 1603, recording Prince Maurits' unsuccessful siege of the city. It offers insights into the visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age and the era's intense political and religious conflicts. The image presents a bird's-eye view of the city, surrounded by fortifications and besieging forces. Produced during the Eighty Years' War, this map reflects the Dutch Republic's struggle for independence from Spanish rule. Note the strategic importance of 's-Hertogenbosch as a Catholic stronghold within the Protestant-dominated Netherlands. The map subtly underscores the cultural and religious tensions of the time. Historians can use maps such as these to understand military strategies and to reconstruct the socio-political landscape of the 17th-century Netherlands. They also show us how printmakers served as visual journalists, shaping public opinion. The Rijksmuseum's collection offers many such resources for deeper exploration of this era.