Gezicht op de binnenplaats van het Rasphuis te Amsterdam 1665

This anonymous print shows the courtyard of the Rasphuis in Amsterdam. It was a Dutch house of correction, a prison, where men were forced to rasp wood as punishment. The scene shows the inmates hard at work. The rasping of wood was intended not only as punishment but also as a form of rehabilitation through labor. Above the arched gateway are the words 'T RASPHUYS' and a statue of Justice. The Rasphuis, established in the late 16th century, reflects a shift in attitudes towards crime and punishment, influenced by the reformation. Amsterdam, a major port city, had a large population of vagrants and petty criminals, and the Rasphuis was part of a broader system of social control, intended to instill discipline and order. The image is a valuable source for historians to learn about the social and penal practices in the Netherlands. Further research into the city archives and prison records, could reveal more about the daily lives of inmates and the institution’s impact on Amsterdam society.