This website presents our knowledge and research on this important aspect of the Royal Collection. As of April 2026 it will not be regularly updated and new research on this topic will sit within the main website.

Eighty Years War (Dutch War of Independence) (1568-1648)

Contemporary prints and maps of the battles and sieges of the Eighty Years War

WORKSHOP OF CLAES JANSZ VISSCHER II (C.1587-1652)

Map of Gennep, 1641 (Gennep, Limburg, Netherlands) 51°41ʹ54ʺN 05°58ʹ25ʺE

published 1641

Etching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type B); gilt edges right and bottom | Scale: 1:5,600 approx. | RCIN 723002.a

A map of Gennep, defended by the Irish soldier in the Spanish service, Thomas Preston, 1st Viscount Tara (1585-1655), besieged by Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (29 January 1584-14 March 1647) on 8 June and taken by him on 27 July 1641. Eighty Years War (1568-1648). Oriented with west-south-west to top (cardinal points). 

The letterpress text which is at RCIN 723002.b describes the disposition of the Dutch encampment and gives a daily account of the siege together with a recital of the terms of surrender. It is a translation of the Dutch text mentioned by Campbell (1968, no.38), with the title beginning ‘Korte verklaringe …’. An example of the full Dutch text is in the Rijksmuseum (RP-P-OB-81.500E).

  • Workshop of Claes Jansz Visscher II (c.1587-1652) (printmaker) [bottom centre:] CJVisscher Excudit.

    ? Schut, Pieter Hendricksz (1618/19-1660) (printmaker)

    After Nicholaes Renaud (fl.1641) (draughtsman) [bottom left, below scale bar:] S.r Renaudus Delineavit. A.o 1641.

    Claes Jansz Visscher II (c.1587-1652) (publisher)

    Subject(s)

    Army-Dutch
  • Watermark: None visible

    Condition: heavy brown discolouration; about 5 mm of re-used Mount Type A around left, bottom and right edges; some pressure marks

  • Scale: 1:5,600 approx. Scale bar: Scale van vyf hondert Paßen [72 mm =] 500.

    39.9 x 52.2 cm (image and sheet)

    40.5 x 53.0 cm (platemark)

  • Printed title:

    Nobilissimis ac Præpotentibus Fœderatarum / Belgij Provinciarum / ORDINIBUS GENERALIBUS / Nec non Illustrissimo ac belli laudibus clarissimo / HENRICO FREDERICO, / Principi Arausiorum, Comiti Nassaviæ etc, Duci exercitus Generali, hanc / ARCIS GENNIPPENSIS / oppugnatæ atque expugnatæ tabulam humillimé offert dedicatque / Nicolaus Ioannis Visscher. [top right, in rectangular cartouche]

    Annotation:

    George III heading: Gennep 8 June – 27 July 1641.

    Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom right, black pencil:] 1641. (Verso) none.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Gennep A Plan of the Siege of Gennep invested by the Prince of Orange on the 8.th of June and taken on the 27.th of July 1641: by Renaudus, 1641: published by Visscher. [with a Description]

  • Subject(s)

    Gennep (Limburg, Netherlands) 51°41ʹ54ʺN 05°58ʹ25ʺE

  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    T. Campbell, ‘Claes Jansz. Visscher: a hundred maps described’, Map Collectors’ Circle, V, No. 46, London 1968

    M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 3085

Page revisions

  • 23 May 2024