The antique map titled ‘Belgica Foederata’, created in 1665, depicts the Netherlands in the early 17th Century. ‘Belgica Foederata’ translates to ‘United Belgium’ and refers to the Dutch Republic, which was a federation of seven provinces. At this time, the Netherlands was a significant trading power with a prosperous economy, and cities such as Utrecht, Leiden and centrally located Amsterdam were thriving centres of commerce. The Netherlands was bordered by Germany to the east and France to the south, and the map likely shows the various regions and territories that made up the Dutch Republic at the time.