The Dutch Revolt or Eighty Years’ War was a series of battles fought in the Netherlands between 1568 and 1648 which began when part of the Habsburg Empire resisted the, in their eyes, unjust rule of the Spanish King Philip II.

Military and religious conflict
Formation of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands gradually took place during the Revolt. At the start of the battle, William of Orange emerged as the leader of the revolt. This military battle was later continued by the Dutch States Army under the leadership of his sons Maurice and Frederick Henry.
The battle for religious freedom is inseparable from the revolt. The reform movements revolted against the dominant power structure of the Catholic Church that had been enforced by the Spanish.

News and Propaganda
Approximately 3600 items illustrating the Revolt in varying ways have been selected from the Frederik Muller Historical prints collection. The majority of the exhibits are prints that were used to inform the public of current events during the course of the war. Famous are, for example, the pictorial representations made and issued by Frans Hogenberg and his studio in Cologne. Propaganda prints were used by the parties involved to find support for their ideas and struggle. Of more practical use were the military instructions for the soldiers of the Dutch States Army illustrated by Jacob de Gheyn in his manual Wapenhandelinghe.