Inname van 's-Hertogenbosch door Frederik Hendrik, 1629 1865 - 1870

Christiaan Lodewijk van Kesteren created this print, *Inname van 's-Hertogenbosch door Frederik Hendrik, 1629,* referencing the Siege of 's-Hertogenbosch during the Eighty Years' War. Van Kesteren made this print well after the actual historical event and during a time of rising national sentiment in the Netherlands. The print, in its detailed depiction of the victors, serves as a reminder of Dutch power and sovereignty. But, if we reflect on the impact of the Eighty Years' War on the communities involved, we begin to see beyond the celebration of military victory. The war had profound social and economic impacts, and disrupted family structures. The print is a symbol of national pride, but it is important to remember that national pride can often mask the complex and sometimes painful realities experienced by ordinary people during times of conflict.