Het vermakelijk ganzenspel 1848 - 1881

This is Het Vermakelijk Ganzenspel, or The Entertaining Goose Game, a handmade game board by Lutkie & Cranenburg. It’s a lithograph, likely from the early 19th century when the Dutch, having been under French rule, were re-establishing themselves. The game centers on chance and luck. It consists of a spiral track numbered from 1 to 63, and players move their tokens along the track according to dice rolls. Various squares have special functions, some beneficial and some detrimental, often themed around geese. In the historical context of post-Napoleonic Netherlands, games like these served not only as entertainment but also as subtle social and cultural commentary. The reliance on luck and chance might reflect the uncertainties and vagaries of life in a society undergoing significant change. Games of chance also often reveal the anxieties related to economics. With its simple yet engaging design, this goose game captures a moment in time, inviting players to experience the past in an immediate and personal way.