Map of Holland

Antique Map of the County of Holland, ca. 1690–1700

By Nicolaes Visscher | Published by Pieter Schenk, Amsterdam

This finely engraved and beautifully hand-colored antique map, titled “Hollandia Comitatus”, presents an elegant and highly detailed depiction of the County of Holland—the most powerful and populous province of the Dutch Republic during the Golden Age.

Originally created by the celebrated Amsterdam cartographer Nicolaes Visscher II, the map was later published by Pieter Schenk, one of the most prominent engravers and map publishers of late 17th-century Amsterdam. The cartouche typically credits both names, a hallmark of transitional prints where Schenk reissued plates acquired from the Visscher family.

Rendered with geographic precision and visual richness, the map features:

• Towns and cities such as Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, Delft, The Hague, and Rotterdam
• A delicate network of rivers, canals, and dikes, integral to the Dutch water management system
• Decorative embellishments, including an elaborate title cartouche, scale of miles, and coats of arms
• Latin title and Dutch place names, appealing to both scholarly and local audiences

Details:

• Title: Hollandiae Comitatus
• Cartographer: Nicolaes Visscher II
• Publisher: Pieter Schenk (Amsterdam)
• Date: circa 1690–1700
• Medium: Copperplate engraving with original hand-coloring
• Language: Latin (title); Dutch (toponymy)
• Dimensions: 75 x 57 cm.
• Condition: Excellent; strong impression with fresh contemporary hand-coloring, original folds as published, light age toning
• Ref. Blonk- Van der Wijst 70.3 Third state with address of Schenk

A quintessential example of Dutch provincial cartography, Hollandia Comitatus reflects the power, infrastructure, and geographic mastery of Holland at the height of the Dutch Republic. Maps such as this were both practical tools and political statements, showcasing the Dutch mastery of land and water, commerce and culture.