War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14)
Sieges, marches, encampments and famous battles from 1701 to 1712 in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands
Ostend, 1706
Plan Nouveau et Exact du port / et de la ville DOstende, avec / toutes le fortifications Comme elles y / sont a present la Hauteur de leau et L’ancrage
1713 or laterPencil, pen, ink and watercolour on paper; gilt edges | Scale: 1:4,500 approx. | RCIN 725074
The explanatory text gives an account of the physical geography of the town and its environs, and the fortifications, commenting that, because of the marshes surrounding it on the land side, and the sea to the north, that Ostend was well fortified as much ‘par art que par nature’. The purpose of this plan, according to the draughtsman, is to show how and where, in spite of the artificial and natural strengths of the port, it could be succesfully attacked. The example of the siege of 1706 is given here.
To the north of the port is marked the place designated for the ships trading to the East Indies. The Ostend Company was formed in 1713 to establish trading links with the East Indies and trade from Ostend began in 1715. It may be, therefore, that this map dates from between 1713 and 1715, or just after 1715.
This plan has been removed from a volume, made about 1719 or later, of manuscript maps and plans of sieges. Other maps, perhaps in a different hand but, apparently from the same volume, are scattered throughout the collection: RCINs [724061], [724090], 725007, 725009, 725011, 725013, 725021, 725023, 725027, 725030, 725032, 725041, [725044], 725045, 725047, [725055], 725087, 725098, 726007, 726014, 726022, 726041, 726045, 726053, 726065, 726073, 726080, 726086, 726090, 727004, 727007, 727011, 727013, 727014.
Additional text: [bottom left, below title, a description of the situation of Ostend and the fortifications, together with a key to the map, A-F:] Explication.
For further reading, see:
M. Serruys, ‘Oostende en de Generale Indische Compagnie. De opbloei en neergang van een koloniale handelshaven (1713-1740)’, Tijdschrift voor Zeegeschiedenis, vol.24, no.1, 2005, pp.43-59.
Condition: one fold line. Verso: induced discolouration; remains of guard.
Anonymous (cartographer)
Watermark: Fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, a ‘4’ suspending the letter WR below; countermark: IV
Condition: one fold line. Verso: induced discolouration; remains of guard
Scale: 1:4,500 approx. Scale bar: Maastab von 1850 piets deren [?6 or b] auff eine Toises [135 mm =].
50.6 x 63.7 cm (image and neatline)
52.6 x 73.3 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
Plan Nouveau et Exact du port / et de la ville DOstende, avec / toutes le fortifications Comme elles y / sont a present la Hauteur de leau et L’ancrage [bottom left, in rectangular panels]
Additional text:
[bottom left, below title, a description of the situation of Ostend and the fortifications, together with a key to the map, A-F:] Explication.
Annotations:
George III heading: Ostend 17 June - 8 July 1706.
Other annotations: (Recto) [top right, ink:] 98. (Verso) [top right, ink:] 98; [top right, red pencil:] 1706; [bottom, right of centre, red pencil:] 4/77; [bottom, right of centre, black pencil:] V/7[4]; [bottom left, black pencil, cropped and illegible].
George III catalogue entry:
Ostend Plan dessiné de la Ville d'Ostende, avec les Attaques en 1706.
Subject(s)
Oostende, Flanders, Belgium (51°13'24"N 02°54'42"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
M. Serruys, ‘Oostende en de Generale Indische Compagnie. De opbloei en neergang van een koloniale handelshaven (1713-1740)’, Tijdschrift voor Zeegeschiedenis, vol.24, no.1, 2005, pp. 43-59
