Blank (cut) // lion rampant holding sword in right paw and (seven) arrows in left // shield bearing crowned saltire keys, LAIDEN.ENCES around // blank
(has remnants of gilding)
Normally the seven arrows in the claw symbolized the seven provinces of the Northern Netherlands:- Groningen en Ommelanden, Friesland, West-Friesland, Overijssel, Gelderland, Holland, and Zeeland. On this seal there only appear to be five arrows. Perhaps some Dutch historian knows of a time when only five provinces were included or it may well be down to die-cutters licence.
