Sneecha, vulgo Sneeck ... [on sheet with] Doccum [and] Sloten [and] Ylsta. (Sneek, Doccum, Sloten, IJlst)

Antique map with four bird's-eye view plans by Braun and Hogenberg: Sneek, Doccum, Sloten, IJlst.

SNEEK with CARTOUCHE: Sneecha, commonly known as Sneek. A town in West Frisia.
COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "The town itself is protected by its natural position rather than by walls: and it is still young, like almost all others in this area, for it has possessed a municipal charter and privileges for less than 200 years."

This is a bird's-eye view from the south of the town, which is surrounded by a wall and a moat. Very prominent on the left is the late Gothic Grote Kerk or Martinikerk. To the north of this, less clearly identifiable, is the town hall (Stadhuis), which is integrated into a row of houses. The only part of the city wall that has been preserved is the gate at the southwest outlet, known as the Waterpoort, which today is the town's landmark. Sneek probably developed from a settlement on a mound around the Martinikerk. It was first surrounded by a defence wall in 1300, and was granted a municipal carter in 1456. In the second quarter of the 16th century it was made into a fortress.

DOKKUM with COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "Dokkum, known to many in Latin Doccerum, lies in the County of Oostergo, two miles north of Leeuwarden [...]. It was occupied by the Gueldrians during the Guelders War, and it was well fortified by a wall and moats of the type common at that time. But when they were defeated and driven out by the imperial troops, the wall was completely destroyed. The town remained unfortified from then until 1581, when the united cities of the Netherlands built new fortifications."

This is a bird's-eye view from the south of the city, which is surrounded by a moat. The Gothic Martinikerk stands out clearly. Dokkum is first recorded in connection with the murder of St Boniface in the year AD 754, which therefore is considered to be the year of its founding. It was granted a municipal charter in 1298. A wall was built around the town in 1581/82 because of its strategic importance. From the 18th century onwards it increasingly lost its character as a coastal town due to land reclamation measures. Dokkum is the northernmost town in the Netherlands.

SLOTEN with COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "The little town of Sloten belongs to Sevenwouden and lies to the south in a low, marshy place, hardly a quarter of a mile from the coast, and two miles from Sneek. [...] It is subject to the parish churches of two neighbouring villages, which may surprise some people for it has its own municipal charter, is ruled by its own authorities and in earlier times was well defended not only by nature but also by man-made fortifications."

This is a bird's-eye view from the south of the smallest of the Frisian towns, surrounded by a moat. Its founding can be traced back to the 13th century, and in 1426 it is recorded as a city. In 1523, during the Guelders War, it was the last Frisian stronghold to fall into the hands of the imperial troops; its fortifications were completely rebuilt in 1581/82.

IJLST with COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "IJlst, called Ilostum by some, and Iliacum in several old manuscripts, and situated only half an hour on foot from Sneek, is a long, narrow town stretching from north to south, and has only two streets with fairly deep water between them. It has nothing of special note other than its age, which is said to surpass that of Sneek as well as several other Frisian towns.

This is a bird's-eye view from the south of the little town. The church stands out clearly, as does a mill at the north end of the city. IJlst is about 3 km southwest of Sneek, and is the second smallest of the Frisian towns. (Taschen)

The four plans are made after Jacob van Deventer.

More about Frans Hogenberg. [+]

More about Braun and Hogenberg, Civitatus [+]

Reference: Van der Krogt 4, 4032; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.293.