Watersnood bij Millingen, 1809 1809

Cornelis van Hardenbergh created this pencil drawing titled "Watersnood bij Millingen" in 1809. It depicts a scene from the Netherlands, a country that has battled water for centuries. Millingen is a town situated on the Waal River, a branch of the Rhine. The reference to ‘Watersnood’ or ‘flooding’ in the title suggests a specific historical event and the vulnerability of the community living in this region. This drawing documents a moment of crisis, but it also reflects the social and institutional structures in place to manage such events. How did the Dutch government and local communities respond to the 1809 flooding? Were there systems in place for disaster relief and prevention? Investigating archival records, newspapers, and other historical sources would help us understand the social impact of this natural disaster and how it shaped the community of Millingen.