Dutch Warships in the Age of Sail, 1600–1714

Design, Construction, Careers and Fates

James Bender

• Verlag: Seaforth Publishing
• Jahr: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781473852877
• Thema: Technik & Maschinenbau
• Thema: Seeverkehr

This definitive study presents a complete account of the Dutch Republic's naval fleet during its golden age as a world power. The Netherlands was by far the most important maritime power of the seventeenth century. It dominated seaborne trade with the largest merchant fleet in the world. Born out of an 80-year struggle against Spain for independence, the Dutch republic relied on naval power to protect its freedom, promote its trade and defend its overseas colonies. Yet the ships that made up its fleets are among the least studied of any in the age of sail. This is partly because a decentralized administration of five separate admiralties, often producing ships of the same name at the same time, as well as competing systems of measuring ships, all lead to confusion and error. In this comprehensive volume, James Bander delivers the first definitive listing of all Dutch fighting ships—whether purpose-built, purchased, hired or captured—from the heyday of the United Provinces. Each entry is complete with technical details and summaries of the ship's career. It also provides administrative, economic and technical background, and outlines the many campaigns fought by one of the most successful navies in history.

Ships Listed by Period and Admiralty

Only information that can be related to named ships is included in this list. Any recorded data that cannot be tied to a specific ship is omitted. The lists are ordered by Admiralty (in the usually accepted hierarchy of seniority), and within that by year of first mention, the ship names then being listed alphabetically. Generally, the detail is exactly as given in the sources: for example, under ‘Crew’ the term ‘Men’ implies both seamen and soldiers, whereas ‘Sailors’ is confined to the former. ‘Sailors’ is a translation of ‘Matrozen’ in the original handwritten document, whereas ‘Men’ equates to ‘koppen’ (literally ‘heads’, for a total head-count that often encompasses sailors and soldiers). Frequently, prior to 1654, the documents say ‘musketeers’ instead of soldiers. From 1652, both Rotterdam and Zeeland handwritten documents use ‘soldaten’ when they mean soldiers; Amsterdam seems to use ‘musketeers’until 1653.

SHIPS ACQUIRED PRIOR TO 1600

Admiralty of Rotterdam or the Maze

Bon Aventure

The Bon Aventure was mentioned in 1597 as a ship hired for service in the fleet that assisted the English.

Commander: Hendrick Hartman

Size: 65 lasts

Crew: 65 men

Brack

The Brack was mentioned in 1597.

Size: 60 lasts

Crew: 60 men

Hollandsche Leeuw

The Hollandsche Leeuw was mentioned in 1597 as being in service on the inland waters of the Netherlands.

Commander in 1597: Paluck van Heert

Size: 60 lasts

Crew: 34 men

Hollandsche Tuin

The Hollandsche Tuin was built in 1591 and was last mentioned in 1616. In 1615, the Hollandsche Tuin was said to need carpentry work.

Commander in 1597: Adriaen Cruyck

Size mentioned in 1597: 80 lasts

Size mentioned in 1616: 70 lasts

Crew in 1597: 74 men

Castor

The Castor was mentioned in 1597 and was part of the fleet that assisted the English.

Commander in 1597: Maerten Maertenszoon

Size: 80 lasts

Crew: 70 men

Dolphijn

The Dolphijn was mentioned in 1597 and was said to be newly built. The Dolphijn was among all the ships that assisted the English fleet.

Commander in 1597: Lambert Hendrickszoon

Size: 80 lasts

Crew: 70 men

Draeck

The Draeck was mentioned in 1597.

Commander in 1597: Jacob Michielszoon

Size: 90 lasts

Crew: 80 men

Hope

The Hope was mentioned in 1597.

Commander in 1597: Claes Janssen

Size: 86 lasts

Crew: 20 men

Jager

The Jager was mentioned in 1597.

Commander in 1597: Jan de Wit

Size: 84 lasts

Crew: 20 men

Land van Beloften or ‘t Lant van Beloften

The Land van Beloften was mentioned in 1597 as being a boat.

Commander in 1597: Jan de Zeeu

Size: 60 lasts

Mercurius or Marcurius

The Mercurius was mentioned in 1597 and was a hired ship.

Commander in 1597: Adriaen Pack

Size: 80 lasts

Crew: 70 men

Neptunus or Neptunis

The Neptunus was mentioned in 1597 and was part of the fleet that aided the English.

Commander in 1597: Adriaen Brechtszoon

Size: 80 lasts

Crew: 70 men

Oranje or Orangue

The Oranje was mentioned in 1597.

Commander in 1597: Willem Dirckszoon Cloyer

Size: 200 lasts

Crew 136 men

Pelgrim

The Pelgrim was mentioned in 1597.

Commander in 1597: Anthony Weyts

Size: 90 lasts

Crew 20 men

Post van Oranje or Den Post van Oraingues

The Post van Oranje was a vessel on the inland waters mentioned in 1597.

Size: 14 lasts

Crew 20 men

Salamander

The Salamander was mentioned in 1597 as ‘the country’s future’ and was in the fleet that aided the English.

Commander in 1597: Dirck Aertszoon Hoogemoet

Size: 70 lasts

Crew 60 men

Serpentijn

The Serpentijn was mentioned in 1597.

Size: 45 lasts

Crew 60 men

Sint Sebastiaen

The Sint Sebastiaen was mentioned in 1597 and was in the fleet that aided the English.

Commander in 1597: Cornelis Dirckszoon

Size: 6...