Special Collections - Maastricht University Library

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Special Collections - Maastricht University Library

The Maastricht University’s Special Collections. Delve into Philosophy, History, Literature and more.

03/06/2026

What did it take to drain the largest lake of Holland? 💧

This book from 1736 provides insights into the first plans to drain the Haarlemmermeer, now a polder located in the West of the Netherlands (and home to Schiphol airport!), and therefore, into part of the Netherlands' history of reclaiming land from water.

The Haarlemmermeer was a rapidly growing lake, a so-called "waterwolf" in Dutch. After merging with three neighbouring lakes due to floods that swallowed the land inbetween and with it, whole villages, the water body continued to expand in the following centuries, raising concerns about human safety and infrastructure damages. Before modern flood control, severe storms could cause flooding that wiped out whole villages in the area of a "waterwolf".

The first proposal to d**e and drain the lake was made by Jan Adriaenszoon Leeghwater (1575-1650), a Dutch millwright and hydraulic engineer in 1643. He states the advantages of the plan, finds solutions for potential difficulties, and gives an estimate of the cost. For the draining of the Haarlemmermeer, he estimated that more than 220 windmills had to be constructed, drawing on his experience from the draining of the Beemster polder in 1609-1612, which was the first lake to be reclaimed using windmills. However, Leeghwater's proposal was quickly met with various criticisms and it was not until 1839 that the work to prevent the Haarlemmermeer from further expansion really begun. The final straw were two furious hurricanes in 1836 that drove the waters all the way to the gates of Amsterdam and submerged the streets of Leiden, thereby threatening two major Dutch cities.

02/06/2026

What happened to cowards in the 17th century? ⚔️⛵

From this 1694 pamphlet announcing the conviction of four Dutch captains for their cowardly behaviour during the Battle of Texel we know that the punishement was not for the fainthearted either.

Because they could be printed quickly and cheaply, pamphlets in the 17th century were a popular tool to inform the masses about matters of public concern. This pamphlet was used to spread the word about Govert van der Weppelen, Simon Holthuysen, Anthony van der Lith and Cornelis van der Hoeven's sentencing to imprisonment until they paid a fine of a thousand silver ducatons as well as their removal from their functions.

⛵ Which battle was their downfall?

During the early morning hours of June 29 1694, French privateer Jan Baert (1650–1702) attacked Dutch Navy Officer Hidde Sjoerds de Vries' flagship. Despite having fewer guns and ships than the Dutch, Baert and his fleet won after a brief but fierce battle. They recaptured 120 grain ships, which had previously been taken by the Dutch immediately after leaving Norway. Baert had been instructed to es**rt the grain convoy from Norway to France as France was suffering under acute famines due to grain shortages amidst the Nine Years' War but the ships had set sail without waiting for Baert's arrival. Following his victory, Baert was able to fulfill his mission and deliver the much-awaited grain to France, where he was celebrated as a hero and even raised into the nobility by King Louis XIV.

On the contrary, the four Dutch captains convicted of cowardice were said to have failed to come to the aid of Hidde Sjoerds de Vries, remaining idle and then then retreating after the Dutch flagship was overwhelmed by the French squadron, thereby abandoning their duty of supporting their superior.

27/05/2026

Have you ever heard of Den Briel? 🗺️

Located on the island of Voorne, it was the first city to be captured by the Dutch in the 80 Years' War, marking a turning point in their rebellion against Spain.

On April 1, 1572, the Watergeuzen sacked the city’s port after hearing that the Spanish garrison had left for Utrecht. As such, Den Briel is of great historical significance for the Dutch and its inhabitants continue to celebrate the city’s capture every year.

Through Cornelis van Alkemade (1654-1737) and his son-in-law Pieter van der Schelling’s (1691-1751) collection, we get unique geographical and historical insights on Den Briel. Next to their detailed descriptions of the city, their account chronicles the history of the noble family that governed Voorne and describes the growth of the polders on the island after the Dutch reclaimed it.

📖 Alkemade, C. v., & Schelling, P. v. d. (1729). Beschryving van de stad Briele, en den lande van Voorn.

26/05/2026

⚠️ Spoiler alert: They were not! 🇮🇹

But while this 6-volume travel guide from 1779 will not be experiencing Italy this summer, we still can experience Italy through them.

Johann Volkmann's renowned travelogue is a unique source on 18th-century Italy. It covers major Italian cities, with volumes 3 and 4 showcasing their beauty through detailed engravings. Volkmann wrote this guide after spending a year and a half travelling through the country researching art and antiquities.

This is the second edition of Volkmann's original publication in 1770-1771, which became the most important guide and description of Italy of the 18th century. Even Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) used it for his travels through Italy, as we know from his correspondence with Charlotte von Stein (1742-1827).

20/05/2026

Are you a maths person? 🧮📐

Then this one is for you 👉🏼

The Elementorum is considered one of the most successful textbooks ever written.

Why?

It is the foundational text of both geometry and number theory, covering plain geometry, proportions, number theory and solid geometry.

The present edition from 1607 has been edited by Christopher Clavius (1536-1612), or "the Euclid of the 16th century". This comparison is of great significance, since Euclid was considered among the greatest mathematicians of antiquity and the "father of geometry." Clavius, a German Jesuit mathematician and astronomer, lived up to his nickname, becoming the the most highly respected astronomer in Europe in his lifetime. He was instrumental in the Vatican's adoption of the Gregorian calendar and also a pioneer of the use of the decimal point.

19/05/2026

🔎 Details of a 1542 edition of Reinier Snoy's Psalterium Davidicum ✨

On 2 November 1532, violent storm surges destroyed several d**es around Duiveland and Zeeland, resulting in the third Allerheiligenvloed - a catastrophic flood that swallowed whole villages. Holland and Utrecht stood long-term underwater, requiring many hands to drain the polders and reclaim the lands. Among them, was Reinier Snoy's patron Adolf of Burgundy. As a result, Snoy (ca. 1477–1537) of Gouda, a scholar-physician, diplomat, and humanist theologian, had a lot of free time, which he spent in quiet reflection at Zandenburg, where he completed his Psalterium Davidicum.

Upon publication, the work became an immediate success, remaining in print until as late as 1780.

Far more than a simple commentary on the Psalms, Snoy’s text embodies his biblical humanism. Influenced by the Erasmian ideal of inner piety, his paraphrases aim to uncover the spiritual essence of Scripture rather than merely explain its literal meaning.

It is structured around the moral journey of the Christian soul, starting with the recognition of sin, followed by the cultivation of virtue, and finally, the perfection in eternal life.

14/05/2026

In de week van 14 mei vinden de Landelijke Actiedagen Weerbaar Erfgoed plaats. Door heel Nederland staan organisaties stil bij de vraag: hoe maken we ons erfgoed weerbaarder tegen crises, klimaatverandering, noodsituaties en conflict?

Binnen de Bijzondere Collecties van de Universiteitsbibliotheek hebben wij de afgelopen jaren gewerkt aan het verder professionaliseren van ons CHV-plan en onze maatregelen rondom erfgoedveiligheid en noodvoorbereiding.

Hiervoor hebben wij een video gemaakt waarin we laten zien hoe wij werken aan het beschermen en weerbaar maken van ons erfgoed — van collectiezorg tot voorbereid zijn op onverwachte situaties.

Cultureel erfgoed staat wereldwijd steeds meer onder druk, onder andere door oorlogen, extreme weersomstandigheden en digitale dreigingen. Juist daarom is het belangrijk om vooruit te denken en samen te werken aan de bescherming van onze collecties voor toekomstige generaties.

13/05/2026

Documenting history with style 📜🖋️

This 1713 edition of Monumenta Paderbornensia by Ferdinand von Fürstenberg, Prince-Bishop of Paderborn, documents the history of Paderborn, Germany, covering Roman, Frankish, and Saxon periods. It contains descriptions of monuments, including churches, bridges, and wells, which commemorate historical or other events, illustrated by beautiful engravings.

The Panegyricus Paderbornensis was written to celebrate the centennial of the foundation of the Jesuit Academia Theodoriana, the first university in
Paderborn.

First published in 1669 (without engravings, which were added to the 1672 edition), this work illustrates Paderborn's "golden age" under Fürstenberg's rule, who focused not only on reconstructing the city after the Thirty Year War but also on actively promoting the arts, education, and architecture.

12/05/2026

Athanasius Kircher: the last man who knew everything? 📚

Jesuit polymath Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) is known for his eccentric and ambitious oeuvre, in which he sought to explain the entire universe through a single, unified vision, for which he - of course - needed to know as much as possible about the world.

🌌 But what did Kircher know about astronomy?

Aligning himself with hermetic cosmology, he believed that everything in the cosmos is interconnected. In his Mundus subterraneus (The subterranean world), Kircher presented the Earth as the center of the universe and in a later publication, he proposed that other planets consisted of the same four elements as found on Earth.

Kircher officially supported the Tychonic system, which posits that the Sun and Moon orbit a stationary Earth, while all other planets orbit the Sun. Part of his theory was that celestial bodies could have natural influences on Earth. In that light, Mundus subtertaneus examines the nature of ocean tides and currents, lakes and springs and rivers, including the presumed flow of water, air, and fire within the Earth. He also argued that magnetism is the universal underlying mechanism that links the stars, Earth, and human beings. Kircher viewed magnetism not just as a physical property, but as a cosmic and spiritual force, calling God the central magnet of all things.

🌑 Fun fact: The Kircher crater on the Moon is named after him in honour of his immense contributions to science.

While many of his ideas have been proven to be scientifically inaccurate, his unwavering curiosity has inspired many in their scientific pursuits, reminding us that science progresses by developing and testing new theories.

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