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This 1828 manuscript map, created under the direction of Captain J. C. Bolle, offers a detailed view of inland navigation routes across the Dutch river delta. Drawn in ink and watercolors, the map emphasizes the intricate network of waterways stretching from the North Sea through key river paths and canals toward important regional towns, including Schoonhoven, Nieuwpoort, and Gorinchem (or Gorcum).
Routes labeled from A to G trace carefully plotted paths through rivers and canals, offering a clear visual guide for navigating the Dutch delta. Major waterways such as the Maas (Meuse) and Waal Rivers dominate the map, with prominent features like the Noord Zee (North Sea) anchoring the western portion of the mapped region. Significant areas, including Krimpen, IJsselmonde, and the Land van Voorne, are identified, helping situate the viewer within a well-organized route map. The scale, marked in Rhineland rods and miles, reflects the time and place of production. The map’s attention to dikes, embankments, and regional markers further illustrates the technical knowledge embedded in Dutch water management and infrastructure.
This map provides a window into early 19th-century inland transportation and strategic planning in the Netherlands. This chart not only highlights the significance of waterways in Dutch life but also speaks to the broader influence of hydrology on regional development and connectivity, positioning the map as both a practical tool and an artifact of Dutch geographic mastery.
Provenance
Purple ink stamp of the "Auswärtiges Amt Geographischer Dienst", the Geographical Service of the Foreign Office of Nazi Germany. Seized as lawful war spoils during the Second World War.
Earlier ink stamp and indicia of institutional ownership.
![[Rhine River] Nova Totius Rheni Descriptio ex celeberrimis et varijs Autoribus, in unam tabulam redacta . . . 1672](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/62395.jpg)
