Dutch merchant ships Barend Willem, Ferdinanda Emma, Helena Anna, Hendrik Jan, de Stad Middelburg and the Landbouw chartered for the expedition to Timor, Dutch East Inies in 1857 according to the Dutch magazine Militaire spectator of 1860

The expedition left Batavia, Dutch East Indies on 26 July 1857. The naval force commanded by captain lieutenant A.A. de Vries consisted of the steamship Zr.Ms. Amsterdam and the steamship Zr.Ms. Merapi captain lieutenant Westerouen van Meeteren. Lacking enough transport facility for the troops were also hired the merchant ships Barend Willem, Ferdinanda Emma, Helena Anna, Hendrik Jan, de Stad Middelburg and the Landbouw. The bark Stad Middelburg was towed by the Zr.Ms. Amsterdam and the Landbouw was fitted out as a hospital ship. The troops on board of the Amsterdam and Stad Middelburg were temporarily disembarked at Koepang after the arrival on 6th August. On the 15th arrived the Hendrik Jan towed by the Zr.Ms. Merapi and on the 20th the Ferdinandina Emma. Later were the Ferdinandina Emma, Barend Willem and Landbouw with troops embarked on board towed by the steamship Zr.Ms. Amsterdam and Merapi towards Atoepoe for an attack on the radja of Lidak. The troops which no longer were needed were embarked on board of the Hendrik Jan, Helena Anna and Middelburg which departed on 15 September towards Java.