Model of an Armed Longboat c. 1819

This is a model of an armed longboat, likely crafted at Rijkswerf Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The work evokes the powerful maritime history of the Dutch, in particular, its investment in naval power. Note how the miniature cannon takes pride of place. The longboat also has many oars, suggesting it was built for speed and the efficient transportation of soldiers and ammunition. To understand its cultural significance, it is important to know something of the institutional history of the Rijkswerf Rotterdam. This was a state-owned shipyard with a huge influence in the development of Dutch naval power. Maritime power served to confirm national identity and this model could be seen as celebrating the achievements of the Dutch in the 18th and 19th centuries. Historians might look to records of the shipyard, and the archives of the Dutch navy to explore these questions further.