Rare Antique Map of Leeuwarden by P. Bast, 1603, Wall Art, Netherlands
€ 4 250
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1603
Mapmaker / artist
P. Bast (Artist)
Technique
Engraved
Sheet size
41 × 50.5 cm (16.1 × 19.9 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-02117
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Overall light to moderate age toning and uniform wear consistent with early 17th-century paper. Minor foxing and light surface soiling. Small marginal stains and faint creases. Plate impression clear and strong; margins ample with no major losses.
About this sheet
Rare Antique Map of Leeuwarden, Friesland, The Netherlands, by P. Bast, 1603
This exceptionally rare city plan depicts Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland in the northern Netherlands, as it appeared in the early 17th century. Engraved by Pieter Bast after a detailed survey by the renowned engineer and surveyor Johan Sems, and published in 1603 by Jan Lamrinck (Ioannem Lamrinck), the map ranks among the earliest and most important printed plans of Leeuwarden.
The plan presents the fortified city in precise detail, showing its polygonal bastioned defenses, moats, canals, and street layout with remarkable clarity. Individual houses, churches, public buildings, and gardens are carefully delineated, reflecting the growing Dutch interest in urban planning, military engineering, and accurate land surveying at the dawn of the Golden Age. The surrounding fields and waterways emphasize Leeuwarden’s strategic position within the Frisian landscape.
Several ornamental cartouches enrich the composition, including dedicatory inscriptions and coats of arms that underline the civic pride and political status of the city. A clearly engraved legend identifies key locations within the urban fabric, while the compass rose at the lower right provides orientation and adds a decorative balance to the overall design. The combination of functional clarity and refined ornamentation is characteristic of Pieter Bast’s work and of early Dutch city cartography more broadly.
As one of the earliest printed plans based on an actual survey, this map is not only a topographical document but also a historical record of Leeuwarden’s urban form at a pivotal moment in its development. Its rarity, early date, and strong visual presence make it highly desirable for collectors of Dutch cartography, Frisian history, and early modern city plans.
