Hollands Arcadia, of de vermaarde rivier den Amstel; : vertónende alle deszelfs lustplaatz...

Whereupon I pass Ruitevliet in the shadow of the trees,
To finally reach my goal,
The green hedges block my view,
I see nothing of the inside for everything here is tightly
Enclosed, to only receive Mr. Spoormeester,
And him, who wishes to attain the choicest of the place.
I go, and see from afar the Haring, where the eye
Is most astonished by the pleasant display
Of what one would sooner take for a Princely court than a pleasure-seat.

How! Do I err! This is one of the noble buildings
Of the Counts of Holland, once so highly, so far regarded,
Before discord brought them to ruin
Through loose wantonness, and the violating of the country’s laws?
But no, this Haring was fished with golden nets
Of noble Merchantry, and brought to this state.
The Court building shows itself everywhere full of splendor,
And lifts its gables, and neatly joined roofs
To the high heaven, to make the praise known
Of Clyburg’s widow, that bright Lady,
Who receives the lush country-pleasure in this building,
When the spring-tide decorates the lap of the fertile earth
With flower and blossom, which each in price and value
Ever vie for the crown of beauty, which compels the eye
To astonishment in the beholding,
Wherefore the Haring may always bear its highest fame.

O Jewel of the Land! Long must you please your Lady,
So that she may find her rest in your shadow!
I approach Donkervliet, while a balmy wind
Lulls the evening hour for me, and urges me to proceed.
O Donkervliet! What beauties do we see
In the square Court-building and Hedges, which draw the eye
As if toward themselves, in their pleasant display,
To only receive dignity from the Lord of Hoogendorp.
Praiseworthy Hoogendorp! Ornament of my songs!
Whose wise precaution is entrusted with the country's treasury,
The heart freezes, that my Singer trusts itself
To let your Name be heard by this Donkervliet.
Faithful Hoogendorp, chosen by the State of Holland,
For the Receivership, what are we not indebted to you,
Where you perform that burdensome office so zealously,
That even Fame can never give you enough praise?
The name of Donkervliet will live forever through you.
Now I step further toward Valkenhuizen, the last
Of the estates placed on the edge of the Amstel stream,
But the first in beauty and status, and fresh land-ornaments:
The front gate can alone satisfy the most fastidious eye,
Decorated with the coat of arms of the noble Valkenier
And of his Spouse. O Pleasure-seat! Might I
Remain singing here forever, to make your glory great,
My Muse would never yearn for any change,
I would in the shadow of your court-building, at rest
Always find new joy and endless delight,
Or sitting down in the pavilion, by the brook,
Forget the revolutions of all that is sublunary,
And sing constantly the fame of Valkenier, who preserved the sword
Of Lady Astraea the goddess of justice for the foaming IJ,
When he as Alderman A municipal official or magistrate. courageously supported the law,
And ensured that no stranger or any Citizen ever complained
Of willfulness or violence, or if ever overconfidence
Burst forth into such a matter, the holy law of Themis the goddess of divine order was upheld
In the shed blood of the violators,
As a warning to others never to build on that ground,
But to be on their guard, where Justice builds her throne,
And seat, through the authority of the earthly Gods,

Wherein Lord Valkenier has acquitted himself laudably,
So that the Amstel stream shall never forget his Name or fame
As long as the swift Falcon A play on the name Valkenier/Valkenhuizen. shines upon Valkenhuizen.
Live, live famous Lord! May your glory long shine
For the salvation of the citizenry! Live to their delight,
So may your pleasure-seat always remain the joy of your days!

There I see Loenersloot, the target of my rest,
Where in the west the fire of Phoebus the Sun extinguishes the day,
And the light of the pale Moon beckons me with her rays.
O Castle of Loenersloot! Do not wait for me to recount
Your antiquity, or how the fire of war previously
Destroyed you, now about three hundred years ago:
I shall also not hear your founder in his tombstone,
Or let his name be heard here on uncertainty:
O No! I am satisfied to see you in this state,
Wherein still the remnant of antiquity lives, if
Your high and steep Roundel A circular tower or fortification. may serve as witness,
To reveal to us a remnant of the first state,
While the rest of the building has been added after that time.

The night robs me entirely of the sunlight,
Therefore I give myself to rest, to gather with the morning rays
A new breath and a new desire,
Until my land-journey is fulfilled to my wish.
Aurora the dawn, cloaked with purple and saffron,
Already illuminates the East, and sows her diamonds
And glowing ruby all around on every side,
As harbinger of a pleasant day.

O Joyful morning light, I greet you with awe,
To return along the Wetering to the Amstel city.
O Bright Wetering! I see you triumph
With estates without number, as well as the Amstel stream,
I shall drift with a pleasure-boat along your green-covered edge,
To soon greet my Mother-city.

The Otterspad is the first that we meet here,
To be on your ground within a short time,
How much the Wetering pleases me with its ornaments,
And satisfies my travel-list in the most beautiful way.

I have already approached Stadlander, where so often
Our Amstel citizenry finds the desired amusement
Of the open air, when Apollo's the Sun's rays
Descend from the sign of the Cancer upon land and fields,
And caress the earth with a hot summer glow.

How swiftly do I drift forth on this crystalline flood,
Where the Rustenburgerpad can please my eyes,
Here the country-youth often dance on balmy summer days,
Where garden by garden, and house by house is built, the eye
Is struck with much wonder, each lifts its roof high,
And seeks to surpass its neighbor in beauty.

The sight must wander in the seeing of this row.
Now I drift past the Overhaal on the flowing water,
A swarm of boats floats here before and behind me,
Whether to find country-pleasure, or to earn a living,
One sails here to and fro nearby with all winds,
And bobs on the surface with a joyful spirit,
As if one were somewhere at a merry Wedding feast,

There I see from afar the CITY, the high Westertoren,
O Sweet sight! How dearly do you come before my eye,
The more, since I have long... [text incomplete]
In the shadow of the trees, garlanded with flower and herb,
And praise the fresh May with song, with harp and flute,
To crown their labor with a sweet joy.

The Lootwitmolen A windmill. comes to reveal itself to my eye,
As the very last sight, before I greet the city.
I step now, O Amsterdam! gladly into your presence,
To find, in the circuit of your spacious and wise walls,
Which will endure the centuries with your great Name,
The rest, having finished my journey,
While I always boast of my Birth-city.

A panoramic etching of the Vecht river by Abraham Rademaker. The river flows horizontally through the center of the image, flanked by beautifully manicured gardens and elegant country houses (buitenplaatsen). Fences and gateways are visible along the riverbanks, and a small boat is on the water.

An etching showing a lively scene on the Amstel river near Amsterdam, depicting a mock naval battle or "admiraalzeilen" (sailing in formation). The river is crowded with numerous rowing boats and sailing yachts. The riverbanks are packed with spectators, and large industrial or admiralty buildings line the shore. In the far distance, the profile of Amsterdam is visible.