The Heemskerk, commanded by Ide Tjaerts Holleman, was a 120-ton, three masted ‘war-yacht’ built in 1638 at Rapenburg and carried 60-crewmen and 120 guns. Its name means ‘Home Church’ and honoured Dutch explorer Jacob van Heemskerk [1567-1607].

The 50-man Zeehaen, commanded by Gerritt Jansz, was also built at Rapenburg in 1639. Despite its smaller dimensions it was a 200-ton, three masted ‘flute’ or transport. It carried a flat stern and an image of a gurnard [Zeehaan].

Both of these vessels have a rather bulging shape beneath a narrow deck. This design was partly because of a Danish taxation practice, which charged visiting vessels according to their deck area!

Dutch Flags

In 1642 the Dutch Prince-flag probably carried an orange band at the top followed by a white and blue band. It was possibly a red band, which became more frequent after 1630, although the orange had definitely been replaced by a red stripe by 1660. However, a separate orange pennant was and still is commonly flown for Dutch Royal birthdays, sporting teams, etc. From 1937 Queen Wilhelmina decreed that the national colours of the Netherlands were red, white and blue, and in 1958, the stripes were defined more precisely as bright vermilion and cobalt blue.

F. Ottens, 1726 [copper plate engraving]
Source: Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts,
State Library of Tasmani