Gerard ter BorchDutch, 1617–1681Het sluiten van de Vrede van Munster
Can I see it?
Yes, on view now
Where is “Het sluiten van de Vrede van Munster” now? Rijksmuseum, Room 2.8, Amsterdam. Yes, on view now. Checked September 29, 2026.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Closing soon· until 5:00 PM
On public display.
Collection: The National Gallery, London
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
This depicts an exceptionally important historical moment: when the Dutch and Spanish ratified a peace treaty ending a war that had lasted 80 years. The event took place on 15 May 1648 in the town hall of the
German city of Münster. The Dutch delegates are at the left, the Spanish ones at the right. Before them on the table are two copies of the treaty, which were placed in the little chests and delivered to Madrid and The Hague.
The National Gallery
Details
- Accession number
- SK-C-1683
What it shows
In the catalog
Display history
On view · Room 2.8
Rijksmuseum · Sep 29, 2026 — now · Verified
Whether it was on view is unknown
The National Gallery · Sep 29, 2026 — Sep 29, 2026 · Unconfirmed
Whether it was on view is unknown
Rijksmuseum · Unconfirmed
Sources
- Rijksmuseum
- Image: The National Gallery — Rijksmuseum (public domain)
In the life of Gerard ter Borch
The whole life1646
Travels to Münster for the peace negotiations
In 1646, at the invitation of the Dutch ambassador Adriaen Pauw, he travels to Münster, where peace between Holland and Spain is being negotiated, paints portraits of the diplomats and attracts the attention of the Spanish ambassador, Count Peñaranda, who takes him into his service.
1648
Turns to interior scenes
Whereas earlier he painted mainly scenes of peasant and military life, from 1648 he gives more attention to domestic interiors with few figures: gallant couples, ladies reading a letter or making music.
1648
Returns to Holland
In the same year he returns to Holland and lives by turns in Amsterdam, The Hague, Haarlem, Kampen and Zwolle; in a short time he gains the reputation of Europe’s foremost master of genre painting. One of his great patrons is the Amsterdam burgomaster Andries de Graeff.
15 May 1648
Present at the ratification of the Peace of Münster
In the service of Count Peñaranda, he is present at the conclusion of the Peace of Münster between Holland and Spain on 15 May 1648 and records the event in his celebrated little picture, painted on copper, “The Ratification of the Treaty of Münster” (De bezwering van de vrede van Münster).
