Marten & Oopjen maken zich mooi

There are countless stories to tell about the Eighty Years' War. (1568–1648), the long-standing revolt of the Netherlands, led by William of Orange, against the Spanish king Philip II. Stories about glorious victories and tactical masterstrokes, but also about clashes of weapons, refugees and terror. Concepts such as the Iconoclasm, the Relief of Leiden, the battle of Nieuwpoort and names such as Alva, Van Oldenbarnevelt and Piet Hein are engraved in the national memory. But how do these events and persons connect, and why does this conflict still matter?

This richly illustrated book is based on objects and artworks from the exhibition of the same name and stories from the NTR television series; a new narrative of the Eighty Years' War with which we want to inform a general and wide audience and show what the meaning of this war was and why this conflict is so important for the Netherlands.