Kaart van de Watergraafsmeer (deel linksboven) - Pieter van den Berge

A detailed seventeenth-century map section of the Watergraafsmeer polder, featuring precise land surveying grids and elaborate heraldic crests.

This print represents the upper-left section of a larger map depicting the Watergraafsmeer, a polder located near Amsterdam. Pieter van den Berge, a Dutch engraver active during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, produced this work with the technical precision characteristic of the period. The map illustrates the systematic land division of the polder, showing the grid-like structure of the reclaimed area.

The composition is dominated by elaborate heraldic displays in the upper-left quadrant. These coats of arms belong to local officials, including Balthasar Scott and Jan Trip, whose names are inscribed below their respective crests. The inclusion of these armorial bearings serves to document the administrative and social hierarchy of the region at the time. The cartographic portion of the print uses clean, thin lines to delineate the plots of land, which are numbered to correspond with land ownership or survey records.

Van den Berge employs a combination of etching and engraving techniques to balance the rigid geometry of the map with the decorative flourishes of the cartouches and heraldry. The contrast between the sparse, functional grid of the polder and the dense, ornate detail of the coats of arms creates a visual tension. This print provides a record of Dutch land management and the aesthetic conventions of seventeenth-century mapmaking. It is a document of both geographical planning and the social status of the individuals involved in the governance of the Watergraafsmeer. The work remains a primary source for understanding the historical topography of the area, as well as the stylistic preferences of Dutch engravers who balanced utility with ornamental display.