Hollandiae pars septentrionalis, Vulgo Westvriesland..

Based on the work of B.F.van Berckenrode, this fine map, orientated west to the top of the sheet, includes Kennemerland and Hollands Noorderkwartier and is a reasonably up-to-date depiction of the reclamation of this part of the country in the period after 1544 when Charles V created the single water control authority of the Hoogheemraedschap van de Uitwaterende Sluizen van Kennemerland en Westfriesland.
The polders, principally the work of J.A. Leeghwater, include Wogmeer (1607-08), Beemster (1607-12), Purmer (1617-22), Wormer (1624-26), Heerhugowaard (1625-31), Schermer (1631-35), whilst other lakes are indicated as drained but without drainage canals engraved.
Lavishly colored and heightened with gold by the master colorist Dirk Jansz. van Santen..

The coloring is attributed to the 17th-century master colorist DIRK JANSZ VAN SANTEN (1637-1708). The map is lavishly colored, using gold for the cartouches and further embellishment and major cities. The scale of longitude and latitude are triple: the variation in tone and color from red and blue-green alternating with gold yields a lively effect. The figures around the cartouches are painted in a somewhat impressionistic way that is characteristic of Van Santen, with many dark shadow areas to highlight the colors.

The celebrated Dutch master colorist Dirk Jansz. Van Santen (1637/38-1708), whose manner is signified by rich and exotic color combinations, added elements such as flowers to clothing and marbling to masonry (found here).
Goedings : "Van Santen applied transparent and opaque colors at the same time in both mixed and pure tints. He often painted the whole surface of the map or illustration, transforming the graphic light and dark contrasts into color.
He applied his characteristic shiny varnish, which had the effect of brightening the color, frequently making use of the same color progression."
Atlases and books colored by van Santen are found in the libraries of the most prominent collectors of the golden age of Dutch cartography ". Bibles and atlases, bound in deluxe bindings by Albert Magnus (1642-1689) and decorated by van Santen were considered gifts worthy of princes. Travelers and poets wrote about this work" (Goedings).

More about Dirk Jansz van Santen

Parts of the item are heightened in gold. Read more about maps heightened in gold.