Vreugdevuren te Den Haag na de afkondiging van het bestand, 1609 - Simon Frisius

A detailed 1609 etching by Simon Frisius documenting the public celebrations in The Hague following the Twelve Years' Truce.

This etching by Simon Frisius depicts the celebrations in The Hague following the announcement of the Twelve Years' Truce in 1609. The print captures a bird's-eye view of the city, focusing on the public festivities held to mark the cessation of hostilities between the Dutch Republic and the Spanish Empire. The composition is structured around a central square where cannons are arranged in a semi-circle, emitting smoke as part of the celebratory display.

Frisius, a skilled etcher and printmaker, employs a precise, linear style to document the urban layout of The Hague. The rows of houses, the tree-lined avenues, and the architectural details of the buildings are rendered with clarity. The scene includes numerous figures engaged in the event, providing a sense of scale and activity. The perspective is slightly elevated, allowing the viewer to observe the spatial relationship between the residential areas and the open space where the artillery is positioned.

As a historical document, this work provides insight into the visual culture of the early seventeenth-century Netherlands. It records not only the topography of the city but also the public response to a major political event. The use of etching allows for fine detail, which Frisius uses to delineate the textures of the buildings and the atmospheric effect of the cannon smoke. The print belongs to a tradition of topographical documentation that was common in the Dutch Republic, where artists often recorded significant public gatherings and urban developments. The work remains a clear example of how printmaking functioned as a medium for disseminating news and commemorating events during this period.