Culemborg – Joan Blaeu, 1649

“Culenburgum” copper engraving of the view of the city of Culemborg from the “Tooneel der Steden van de Vereenighde Nederlanden” [Theatre of the cities of the United Netherlands”], the town book published in 1649 by Joan Blaeu in Amsterdam. Beautiful original hand colourong, with gold highlights. Verso: Latin text. Size: 30 × 51.5 cm.

The different parts of the ‘driestad‘ – literally ‘triple town’ – of Culemborg can be clearly identified on this plan. To the right we can see the old town with its Great (St. Barbara’s) Church. From about 1370 onwards, a new harbour district – the Havendijk – was developed to the north-west towards the River Lek (top right). This was followed around 1400 by the construction of the new town – Nieuwstad – on the landward side (bot tom left). One striking feature of this map – in contrast to many others – is that people are shown walking along the streets. The three sections of the town the old centre, the Havendijk and the Nieuwstad – are separated from each other by canals. This was immortalised in a seventeenth century nursery rhyme, which praises the beauty of the ‘new Tripolis’ and promises it lasting fame and fortune:

“Oud Culemborg, thou art a beautiful and wondrous town
Within thy walls thou hold’st three towns
One could rightfully call thee Tripolis or Driestad
Thou canst pride thyself on age, authority and standing.”

The harbour – completed in 1609 – is clearly visible to the north-west of the old town. Away to the east stands the imposing Culemborg castle. Unfortunately, this fine building was largely destroyed in the ‘disaster year’ of 1672 and its ruins finally demolished during the eight- eenth century. The town is surrounded by meadows and orchards.

Joan Blaeu based his map on an earlier one by Hendricus Verstralen from 1621. He dedicated it to the seven-year-old “most noble Count Hendrik Wolrad, Count of Waldeck, Pyrmont, and Culemborg”, and so on. This young count was born in Culemborg in 1642, son of Count Philip Dietrich of Waldeck, who had inherited the County of Culemborg from his mother. Philip died in 1645, and the three-year-old Hendrik inherited all his father’s titles and territories, including Culemborg, which remained an independent county until 1795.

The elaborate title cartouche in the upper left is surmounted by Count Hendrik’s complex coat of arms, held aloft by two cherubs. Modestly suspended beneath it is the simpler coat of arms of the city of Culemborg.

Price: Euro 495,-