THIS REPRINT, INCLUDING ALL 63 MAPS OF BELGIUM AND HOLLAND (KNOWN IN 1665 AS THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS AND THE SPANISH OR ROYAL NETHERLANDS), IS MADE FROM THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF VIENNA''S COLORED, GOLD-HEIGHTENED COPY, THUS ASSURING THE BEST POSSIBLE DETAIL AND QUALITY. ALONGSIDE ORIGINAL QUOTES FROM JOAN BLAEU RELATING TO THE INDIVIDUAL MAPS, THE NEW TEXT BY PETER VAN DER KROGT EXPLAINS THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS AND INTRODUCES THE READER INTO THE FASCINATING WORLD OF EARLY MODERN CARTOGRAPHY. THE TEXT IS IN DUTCH, FRENCH AND ENGLISH.