Paradise full of bounty  ———

Utrecht was a flourishing city in that period, only later losing this position to cities like Amsterdam. It inspired the famous Dutch poet, Joost van Vondel, to pen the following praise:

"There lark and nightingale sing with equal joy
A lovely song that never dulls the ear.
How then to refer to Utrecht? As a Paradise full of bounty."

Jan Lievens, Portrait of Joost van den Vondel, 1644 - 1650. Collection Rijksmuseum