Old Map of Breda by Joan Blaeu, 1652
Price range: £35.55 through £59.95
Joan Blaeu’s plan of Breda, published in 1652
This bird’s-eye view places Breda’s streets and civic buildings inside angular bastions and water defences. The River Mark, the Aa and surrounding roads set the fortified Dutch city within its wider landscape.
From Blaeu’s town atlas of the United Netherlands; fine art reproduction supplied unframed.
A stunning certified FINE ART PRINT on heavy textured art paper — not a poster
- Direct from the publisher — no middlemen
- Printed in-house in Cornwall
- Free UK delivery — international shipping available
- Produced to meet — and often exceed — museum-quality standards
Size
Fine Art Map Reproductions – Museum-Quality Printing
Unlike most online offerings, our maps are produced entirely in-house, not outsourced to print-on-demand or drop-shipping services. This allows complete control over quality while offering better value. Each map begins with a high-resolution original, carefully enhanced and printed to order using archival papers and pigment inks for exceptional clarity, depth, and longevity. Every piece is personally overseen — no map leaves our workshop unless it is of a quality we would be proud to display ourselves.
Authentic Old Map Paper & Accurate Colour Reproduction
Paper choice is essential to the authenticity of our maps. We use specially sourced 190gsm paper made in the UK from pure materials and traditionally pressed with natural woollen felts. This process creates a subtle, randomly textured surface that closely resembles an original antique document. Likewise the use of premium quality ink fully saturates the paper, producing remarkable clarity, depth, and historical character. Colour fastness and sharpness will remain good for in excess of 100 years!
Buy Old Maps Online in the UK Today Trading online since 1999
The Old Map Company of Great Britain offers a vast and carefully curated collection of the very finest expertly reproduced vintage maps. Our range includes works by renowned cartographers such as John Speed and Willem Blaeu, covering Scotland, England, and beyond. Free UK courier delivery is included, with EU, USA, and worldwide shipping available at cost and calculated at checkout. If you need assistance, our team is always happy to help you choose the perfect map.
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Historical Background
Joan Blaeu published this plan of Breda in 1652, during the long conflict between the Dutch Republic and Spain. The city’s strategic position and elaborate defences made it a frequent focus of military campaigns and mapmaking. Blaeu’s town atlas brought together plans of important cities, presenting their layout and fortifications to readers across Europe.
Map Details
- Subject: Breda in the Dutch Republic
- Cartographer and date: Joan Blaeu, 1652
- Visible features: Fortified walls and bastions, streets, churches, public buildings and surrounding waterways
- Source: Blaeu’s town atlas of the United Netherlands
- Format: Fine art reproduction supplied unframed
Seen from above, the city’s orderly streets sit within angular defensive works and water barriers. The River Mark and the Aa, roads and open land form the setting beyond the walls. Heraldic decoration and carefully drawn buildings give the plan the character of an engraved town portrait as well as a record of military infrastructure.
Breda’s fortifications explain why the city mattered to rulers and armies during the Dutch Revolt and its aftermath. Blaeu’s map lets the viewer follow the relationship between the urban centre and its defences, while the surrounding landscape places the stronghold within its regional setting. It is a compelling example of the seventeenth-century European town plan.
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