Gezicht op de lijnbanen van de VOC en de Admiraliteit op Oostenburg te Amsterdam Possibly 1710 - 1766

This print shows the ropewalks of the Dutch East India Company and the Admiralty on Oostenburg in Amsterdam. It was made by an anonymous artist using etching. The image offers insights into the crucial rope-making process, essential for the seafaring power of the Netherlands. Notice the long, linear structures where ropes were twisted and laid out. The material – likely hemp – would have been prepared and spun into yarns, then combined to form strong, durable ropes. The ropewalks were a critical industrial site, and the labor-intensive work would have been carried out by many workers. The print itself, through the etched lines, conveys a sense of precision and order, echoing the regimented work that took place within the ropewalks. By immortalizing this industrial process, the print elevates the importance of labor and material culture. It reminds us that the Netherlands’ maritime success depended on the convergence of material, skill, and relentless labor.