Holland – Willem Blaeu, 1643

“Hollandia Comitatus.” Copper engraving published by Willem Blaeu, first issued in 1634; this example appeared in the French-language atlas “Le Theatre du Monde” of 1643. With original hand-colouring. Size: approx. 39 × 52.5 cm.

West-oriented map of Holland, with an inset map of the Wadden Islands, decorated with a triton and garlands of fish. The coat of arms of the county appears at the top centre. At lower left is an empty cartouche, surmounted by a reclining lion. At lower right a surveyor is shown with dividers and a scale bar. Willem Janszoon Blaeu signed the plate at lower right.

On the verso, Holland is described as follows:

The province is presented as low-lying, watery and fertile, yet at the same time constantly threatened by flooding. Strong dikes and earthen embankments are needed to protect the land from rivers, sea arms and tidal waters. Blaeu notes that in several places one may see, with astonishment, the water standing higher than the land. Nevertheless, the climate is mild and the soil productive. No wine grows there, and timber is scarce, but the land is rich in agriculture, cattle-breeding, fishing and industry. Reclaimed lands such as the Beemster and the Purmer are mentioned as examples of land recently won from the water, where fine farmsteads had been built and where Amsterdam merchants would sometimes go for recreation.

Although Holland has little wool of its own and little timber, large quantities of cloth are manufactured there, and more ships and wooden structures are made than in almost any other part of Europe. Agriculture produces chiefly grain, especially around Rijnsburg near Leiden, but because the land is densely populated, much also has to be brought in from elsewhere. The meadows, particularly in the north, form one of the greatest sources of income. Butter and cheese are exported in large quantities, earning Holland a million.

Many rabbits live in the dunes and sandy grounds near the sea, while deer and hinds are found in the nearby valleys. The horses of West Friesland are praised for their strength and courage. Waterfowl, especially ducks, are abundant; Blaeu even describes the special duck decoys in which wild ducks were caught with the help of tame decoy birds and a trained dog. The rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes provide an abundance of freshwater fish, while the nearby North Sea offers an even greater wealth of sea fish. Because of the shortage of firewood, peat is cut from the boggy soil: dug out, dried, and used as fuel.

The map was published by the Blaeu firm in two different states. In this second state, the Schermer and the Waard have been reclaimed, and roads are shown in both polders.

Literature: Hollandia Comitatus, Blonk-van der Wijst, nr. 49.2

Price: Euro 850,-