Amsterdam – Frederick de Wit, ca. 1665

AMSTERDAM FROM THE IJ – A WORLD PORT IN THE DUTCH GOLDEN AGE, C. 1665

“Amsterdam”, copper engraving published by Frederick de Wit, c. 1665. Coloured by a later hand. Size: 40 × 51 cm.

We see Amsterdam from the IJ. Along the horizon stretches a long, almost uninterrupted line of houses, church towers, warehouses and defensive works. In front of the city are dozens of warships, merchant vessels, smaller sailing craft, barges and rowing boats. Several ships fire salutes. The dense forest of masts and rigging makes the harbour almost as impressive a cityscape as the buildings beyond.

This profile shows Amsterdam at the height of its seventeenth-century prosperity. The harbour was the lifeline of the city: ships and merchandise arrived here from virtually every part of the world.

In the city profile, from left to right, we can identify among other landmarks the Admiralty shipyard (the later Rijkswerf) and the Admiralty Arsenal (today’s National Maritime Museum), the Montelbaanstoren, Zuiderkerk tower, Regulierstoren, Schreierstoren and Oude Kerk tower, followed by the Exchange, the new Town Hall on Dam Square, the Nieuwe Kerk, the Jan Roodenpoortstoren, Haringpakkerstoren and Westertoren. Farther to the right are the Noorderkerk, the Bickerstorentje, the Haarlemmerpoort and, at the extreme western end, the Blauwhoofd bastion. A 24-part key on either side of the text identifies the principal buildings and landmarks in the panorama.

At upper left hangs the city seal and at upper right Amsterdam’s familiar coat of arms with its three St Andrew’s crosses, both suspended from ornamental ribbons. Beneath the panorama is a short description in Dutch, French, German and English. The English text reads:

“AMSTERDAM, the farre renowned Trading towne, Scituate in Holland by the River the Amstel and Tye, is A°. 1300 begun te boe built by fisshermen and A°. 1350 enlarged, A°. 1400 witz wooden walls and townes Previlieges favoured. A°. 1482 againe enlarged and A°. 1585 againe enlarged, and A°. 1612 againe enlarged an A°. 1662 againe enlarged, being nawe of bignesse 892 Acres and 568 Rodds (approx. 7,26 square kilometres), strenghtened witz 27 Bullworkes and is counted.”

This is how Amsterdam wished to be seen: the far renowned trading town.

Literature: A.E. d’Ailly, Repertorium van de profielen der stad Amsterdam en van de plattegronden der schutterswijken, Amsterdam 1953, no. 100.

Price: Euro 2.150,-