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Old war map of the siege of Bergen-op-Zoom of 1622 by Blaeu

Bergen op Zoom (siege in 1622)

by Johannes Janssonius, Claes Janszoon Visscher

Detail

Date of first edition: 1628 (C.J. Visscher)

Date of this map: 1630

Dimensions (not including margins): 26,5 x 36 cm

Condition: excellent. Sharp copper engraving printed on strong paper. Old colouring.

Condition rating: A

Map reference: Van der Krogt 5, 3122:51 (so referred to in atlas reference below)

From: Atlantis Maioris Appendix, Sive Pars Altera, … Amstelodami. Sumptibus & typis aeneis Ionnanis Iansonii. MDCXXX. Van der Krogt 1, 1:202

Item number:: 49002
Region:: Europe
Benelux
Netherlands cities
War maps
Categories:: Recent Additions

Price (without VAT, possibly to be added): €450,00 (FYI +/- $499,50 / £400,50)

Unless otherwise specifically stated on this map page, we charge the following expedition costs in euro (unfortunatelly, gone up with Covid, but still too low in reality!):

– Benelux: 40 euro

– Rest of Europe: 60 euro

– Rest of the World: 100 euro

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Visscher’s Bergen-op-Zoom: the siege of 1622

Map made by C.J. Visccher in 1628: Kaerte van Bergen op Zoom, Steenbergen ende de Nieuwe fortificatien gemaeckt tot bevrijdinge van ‘t Landt van Ter Tolen in ‘t jaar 1628

In 1588 the governor Alexandre Farnese had already made a failed attempt to take Bergen-op-Zoom.

In 1622 general Spinola made a new attempt. His siege lasted from July 18 to October 2, 1622, but failed again because the city could still be supplied by water and eventually it was relieved by Prince Maurits could.

A young Michiel de Ruyter took part in the battle as a gunner in the artillery (kannonier) in the fight. In the end, the Spaniards fled to the north where Don Velasco could take Steenbergen. The Spanish losses were particularly high: from the original 20,600 men were eventually only about 13,200 men survived. The siege of Bergen inspired to compose the beggar song (geuzenlied) “Merck yet how sterck” referring to Don Velasco. This map was made less than tw years after the battle. When Archduchess Isabella started reinforcing the fortification of Zandvliet, Prince Frederik Hendrik responded by constructing the small fortifications at Mourmont, Pincelen and Roovere (all north of Bergen-op-Zoom) in order to secure a lifeline between Holland and Zeeland.