Rotterdam – Joan Blaeu, 1649

“Rotterdam”, copper engraving published by Joan Blaeu as part of his townbook of the Low Countries “Novum Ac Magnum Theatrum Urbium Belgicae Liberae Ac Foederatae.” Coloured by a later hand. Size approx. 42 x 54 cm.

In 1648, the Peace of Münster brought an end to the Eighty Years’ War. The Dutch Republic had become one of the most powerful states in Europe—prosperous, with a fleet that dominated the seas. Leading the way was Amsterdam, the center of global trade. In the southern part of the Republic, at the mouths of the Rhine and Meuse rivers, Rotterdam had developed into the second-largest commercial and port city of the Netherlands. In a sense, Amsterdam and Rotterdam could be seen as competitors, but on the other hand, Rotterdam held a unique position in the Republic’s economy, one that complemented Amsterdam’s trade and shipping rather than rivaled it. Rotterdam’s trade relations with France and England were particularly significant. With this growing economic importance, the city’s influence relative to other Dutch cities also increased. Naturally, this contributed greatly to the confidence of Rotterdam’s administrators and the circles from which they came—changes to the cityscape bear witness to this.

In the second half of the 17th century, Rotterdam was at the height of its prosperity. However, the wars with England and France weakened the position of the Dutch Republic; they brought an end to Dutch dominance at sea and inflicted significant damage on shipping, trade, and industry. It is clear that Rotterdam’s economy also suffered from this, though it did not stop the beautification of the city and the continued depiction of its image on maps and city views well into the end of the seventeenth century.

The city of Rotterdam is shaped like a triangle on this map, with one side bordering the water. The city is intersected by the Maasdijk, which is called Hoogstraat in this location. North of it lies the old core of the city, protected by the dike, containing the Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk. Outside the dike, but within the city walls, were two former salt marshes located on both sides of the mouth of the Rotte River: Oostnieuwland and Westnieuwland. The Nieuwlanden formed the part of the city where the fishing community and related industries were concentrated. On the southern side, the Blaak and the Nieuwe Haven (New Harbour) marked the city’s boundary.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the city was expanded with what was, for that time, a tremendously large harbour area: the Scheepmakershaven, the Wijnhaven, the Leuvehaven, and the Haringvliet. The old defensive canal, the Blaak, and the Nieuwe Haven were also repurposed as harbours. The many ships in these harbors testify to Rotterdam’s maritime trade.

This expansion gave rise to the characteristic triangular shape of Rotterdam, as seen on this map. In the top corners are the coats of arms of Holland (on the left) and Rotterdam (on the right; featuring four lions—two black and two red—on a golden field with a green band below, crossed by a white band symbolizing the Rotte River).

Price: Euro 2.350,-