Beschryvinge van Amsterdam - Various Artists

A 1665 title page and poem from the historical volume Beschryvinge van Amsterdam, documenting the city's growth and civic identity during the Dutch Golden Age.

This print features the title page and an accompanying poem from the 1665 publication, Beschryvinge van Amsterdam. Published by Marcus Willemsz Doornick, this work documents the history, governance, and architectural expansion of Amsterdam during the seventeenth century. The text provides a detailed account of the city, from its origins along the Amstel River to its status as a global centre of trade and maritime power.

The left page contains a poem titled Klink-dicht op de Tytel-prent van Amsterdam, attributed to G. v. Eekhout. This verse celebrates the city as a personified maiden, the Amstel-Maagt, who stands triumphant amidst the wealth brought by international commerce. The imagery invokes classical deities such as Mercury and Juno to bless the city, while referencing the physical expansion of Amsterdam, including its marble buildings and the bustling harbour. The poem reflects the civic pride characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age, framing Amsterdam as a city favoured by the heavens and enriched by global connections.

The right page serves as the formal title page, outlining the scope of the volume. It promises a comprehensive history, covering the city's early development, its administrative structure, and its most significant buildings. The text notes that the information was gathered from various old and new Dutch chronicles, letters, and official decrees. It also mentions that the volume is decorated with one hundred and twenty illustrations, which would have provided visual documentation of the city's topography and infrastructure at the time. This document is a primary source for understanding how seventeenth-century Amsterdam viewed its own identity and historical trajectory. The typography is typical of the period, utilising a mix of Roman and italic typefaces to organise the dense information for the reader. It remains a significant example of seventeenth-century Dutch publishing and civic historiography.