The Ratification of the Treaty of Münster
Gerard ter Borch the Younger
1648
This depicts an exceptionally important historical moment: when the Dutch and Spanish ratified a peace treaty ending a war that had lasted 80 years. The event took place on 15 May 1648 in the town hall of the German city of Münster. The Dutch delegates are at the left, the Spanish ones at the right. Before them on the table are two copies of the treaty, which were placed in the little chests and delivered to Madrid and The Hague.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam · Image: Rijksmuseum, Public domain · Text: Rijksmuseum, CC0