Nova XVII. Belgicarum provinciarum descriptio / industria ac labore summo quam accuratissim...

A detailed 1594 engraved map of the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands and Belgium, titled "DESCRIPTION OF THE BELGIAN PROVINCES." The map illustrates the coastal regions of the North Sea (labeled PART OF THE GERMAN OCEAN) and the Zuiderzee (THE ZUIDERZEE), featuring numerous ships and sea creatures. The land is densely populated with hundreds of named towns, villages, and fortifications, with topographical features like rivers, forests, and hills. A large, ornate compass rose sits in the upper central area. The top right corner contains a massive decorative cartouche featuring the title, two explanatory text blocks, and seventeen heraldic shields representing the provinces and major cities. In the bottom left, a smaller cartouche provides a legend of map symbols. In the bottom right, a scale of German miles is presented in another decorative cartouche, accompanied by an illustration of a geographer holding a divider tool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BELGIAN PROVINCES

A New Description of the Seventeen Belgian Provinces, expanded and faithfully corrected by the labor of Johannes van Doetecum the Younger. In it, one may clearly observe all cities, villages, rural districts, fortresses, prominent places, rivers, streams, and the remaining boundaries. We have not only brought this description to light, but have now also added the coat of arms for each city. We fervently hope that you, studious Reader, will find this map, drawn to such precision, useful for your own purposes. Farewell.

Because this small geographic map does not contain all the more illustrious cities, we have chosen to include them separately in a book referring to the accompanying atlas volume. Know that this is that very Belgium which was first brought under the yoke by the Romans and by Drusus, and subsequently conquered by Julius Caesar, of whom he wrote thus: "Of all these, the Belgae are the strongest" original: "Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae" — a famous quote from Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War. And these are those of whom the prophecies of the Holy Scripture concerning the northern people against the Antichrist have been brought forth.

The Seventeen Netherlands Provinces, very diligently and carefully reviewed and improved, by Jan van Doetecum the Younger. In which you will not only find the cities, castles, hamlets, and villages, but also all the coats of arms of the most prominent cities, so that you may view the entire configuration of the lands with all their circumstances. In this map, we have also seen fit to add the entire history of the churches of Jerusalem for the pleasure of Christians, so that they may all be guided along one path.

In this Table these signs denote

• Cities
• Towns and Villages
• Forts and Castles
• Monasteries
• Noble residences
• County and Duchy boundaries
• Marshes and Lakes

Scale of German Miles
Explanation of this scale, which you will find disposed in four parts. The first is of large miles. The second of medium miles. The third of small miles. The fourth is of common miles.

Decorative Compass Rose with the following cardinal and ordinal directions:

North North East
North East by North
North East
North East by East
East North East
East by North

East by South
East South East
South East by East
South East
South East by South
South South East
South by East

South by West
South South West
South West by South
South West
South West by West
West South West
West by South

West by North
West North West
North West by West
North West
North West by North
North North West
North by West

Major Geographic Labels:

• PART OF THE GERMAN OCEAN
• THE ZUIDERZEE
• FRIESLAND
• OVERIJSSEL
• GELDERLAND
• HOLLAND
• ZEELAND
• FLANDERS
• BRABANT
• HAINAUT
• NAMUR
• LUXEMBOURG
• PICARDY
• Vimeux
• ARTOIS