Inname van Breda met het behulp van het turfschip, penning geschonken aan de veroveraars van de stad 1590

This silver coin, crafted by Gerard van Bylaer around 1540, commemorates the Capture of Breda by use of the Turfschip. It’s a fascinating object because it highlights the intersection of military, economic, and civic power in the Dutch Golden Age. The image depicts soldiers within a boat, which was filled with peat to disguise them, right next to the wall that surrounds the city of Breda. By infiltrating the city in this manner, the Dutch army was able to capture Breda from the Spanish. This event occurred during the Eighty Years' War, a conflict born from religious and political tensions between the Dutch and the Spanish. Coins like these weren't just currency; they were instruments of propaganda. They circulated stories and shaped public memory. Examining historical archives, letters, and period pamphlets helps us understand the coin's role in constructing Dutch national identity and celebrating military victories.