Rammonitor Zr. Ms. Luipaard in de haven van Den Helder 1880 - 1903

Willem Frederik Boelsums captured this photograph, "Rammonitor Zr. Ms. Luipaard in de haven van Den Helder," documenting a Dutch warship in port. Boelsums, working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was part of a society undergoing rapid technological advancement and shifts in global power. His image of the Luipaard, a symbol of Dutch naval power, reflects a moment of national pride. Yet, the ship also hints at the colonial ambitions of the Netherlands at the time, and its role in the exploitation of overseas territories. Consider the labor required to build and operate such a vessel, and who was conscripted. How were the lives of those onboard shaped by military service, class distinctions and colonial policies? Look at the sailors and the dockworkers and imagine their stories. This photograph invites us to consider the complex relationship between technological progress, national identity, and the human cost of imperial power.