Amsterdam, Amstelland – Gerrit Drogenham + Nicolaes Visscher, 1700

“AFBEELDINGHE VAN DE WIJDVERMAARDE EN BEROEMDE KOOPSTAD AMSTERDAM MET D’OMLEGGENDE LANDEN.” [Image of the widely renowned and famous trading city of Amsterdam with the surrounding lands.] Copper engraving “measured and drawn by Gerrit Drogenham, Surveyor, engraved in copper by Daniël Stoopendaal and published by Nicolaes Visscher” in 1700. Original hand colouring with later additions. Size (print) approx. 52 x 59 cm.

The map depicts the situation around 1700, showing the walled city amidst a richly detailed surrounding area. This engraving appears as the central sheet in the wall map by the same makers and publisher, but it was likely also included as a separate sheet in a compiled atlas (as suggested by its differing title banner).

By the end of the 17th century, Amsterdam had grown into the center of world trade. Much of the land surrounding the city was owned by Amsterdam residents. In the Middelpolder, for example, around half of the land in the 17th century was owned by Amsterdam institutions, and the other half by private individuals from the city. The same applied in the Groot Duivendrechtsepolder: because both individuals and institutions from Amsterdam owned land there, three of the elected mill wardens were required to be from the city. Amsterdam thus exerted influence at all levels on the processes shaping rural development: agricultural operations, polder creation and water management, infrastructure, dike maintenance, and the construction of country estates.

Farms within roughly five kilometers of the city supplied fresh milk. Proximity to the market was essential due to the perishability of raw milk, and these farmers traveled daily to Amsterdam by horse-drawn cart or barge. Farmers located further out, in a wide ring around the city, produced butter and cheese. Hemp cultivation was also important in these areas. Hemp fibers were used as raw material for rope and sailcloth production.

The Ronde Venen area, located further south, mainly produced cheese. Around Abcoude, the emphasis was on butter production. In a broader circle around the city—especially in the region north of the IJ—fattening of livestock was practiced.

After the disaster year of 1672, population growth stalled and the economy stagnated. Agricultural prices declined—starting with grain, and soon followed by dairy products. At the same time, labour costs and polder taxes rose. Later, between 1713 and 1720, a livestock plague (rinderpest) also broke out.

Fortifications marked the boundary of the city, but not the limits of urban functions. Activities that required too much space, or generated noise, pollution, odour, smoke, or fire/explosion hazards, were relocated to the city’s edge or its periphery. Against the city’s edge, within the city walls, industries like ropewalks, paint producers, sulfur refineries, pottery kilns, and distilleries were located. Businesses requiring more space or causing greater pollution—such as cloth stretching racks, cotton printers, and whale oil refineries (for lamp oil and soap production)—were situated outside the city. Some farmers collaborated with linen bleachers, who used large quantities of buttermilk and sometimes whey to “milk” linen fabrics and yarns. Buttermilk was a byproduct of butter production, and whey came from cheese production.

By land, the Overtoom and Amstelveenseweg formed the route to Leiden and The Hague, making it a relatively busy road connection. These roads stood out in the landscape due to the trees planted along them. Large trees did not grow in the peatlands. The roads were elevated and lined in many places by more or less continuous rows of trees. Until the 18th century, there were no paved roads in Amstelland.

However, until the early 20th century, most transport still took place via water. The Amstel was the main traffic artery through Amstelland. There were regular ferry services between the villages and the city markets, as well as between towns and villages themselves. Starting in the 17th century, there was also the trekschuit—a towed barge accommodating around 25 passengers. This led to the development of a network of shuttle services between the main cities of the Dutch Republic.

Price: Euro 1.950,-