Early prospect of Maastricht

A prospect of the city of Maastricht in the Netherlands drawn by Simon à Bello Monte and published in Braun & Hogenberg's 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first systematic series of printed town plans. The title 'Traiectum ad Mosam' means 'crossing over the Meuse', giving Maastricht its Dutch name. Under the view is a 40-point key. In 1579, five years after publication, the city was sacked by the Spanish under general Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, and was held until 1632.