Second copy located, of the first edition of a Dutch poem celebrating life on the country house Moffenschans (literally "Trenches of the Krauts"). It's the second known Dutch poem in the genre known as "hofdicht" (country house poetry) and particularly interesting because of its autobiographical character. The author, Petrus Hondius, appears to be a permanent guest in the house owned by Terneuzen's mayor Johan Serlippens, as he had brought his own library and helped shaping the renowned garden. The poem celebrates the country life in contrast with life in the city, the time spent reading, the beauty of the garden, etc. Hondius is known for growing tulips and his enthusiasm is reflected in poetry celebrating their beauty. His enthusiasm for tulips was followed by many, including Maurice of Nassau, which contributed to the tulip craze which peaked in 1637.
After Terneuzen was liberated from the Spaniards in 1583 by Maurice of Nassau, he had his German brother in law, Philips van Hohenlohe, built fortifications around the city, including an entrenchment just outside the city walls, which became known as the Moffenschans. After the German troops had left, the ground was bought by Terneuzen's mayor Serlippens, who built a country house and garden, maintaining its original name.
About one fourth of the title-page has been cut off and replaced with blank paper, not touching any text; some minor soiling to the title-page and the last leaf. Good copy of an extremely rare poem. 64 pp. J.G. Frederiks, "Petrus Hondius", in: TNTL VI (1886), pp. 103-159 (this copy?); Nijhoff & V. Hattum 138 (KB copy); STCN (KB copy); WorldCat/KVK (KB copy); cf. Dash, Tulipomania (1999).