This pantserdekship [protected cruiser] was laid down at the yard of the Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde at Flushing, Netherlands on 27 March 1893, launched in 1897, commissioned at Flushing on 1 June 1898, stricken in 1924 and finally sold to be broken up. Building costs with first fitting out were ƒ 2.949.180,-.
With a displacement of 3,900 tons were her dimensions 93,30 x 14,81 x 5,40 metres. Her engines and 10 boilers driving 2 screws supplied 9,800 ihp allowing a speed of 19,47 miles. The coal bunker capacity was 850 tons. She was originally armed with 2-15cm guns, 6-12cm guns, 4-7.5cm guns, 8-3.7cm guns, 2-7.5cm mortars, 2 torpedo tubes and 2 torpedo guns. In 1908 were 4-3.7cm guns, 1-7.5cm guns and mortar removed. Her crew numbered 325 men. The armour consisted of a 50mm deck while the conning tower was protected by 100mm.
The Dutch magazine De Prins dated 30 October 1920 page 212 published this photo just before her departure towards Vigo. She left IJmuiden on 20 October towards Algiers and Malaga and returned on 18 December at Nieuwediep (Den Helder).
In Dutch newspapers you can follow the several stages of her building. I used just newspapers published in the province Zeeland.
The Goessche Courant dated 20 December 1894 that it was almost certain that the Schelde was allowed to build one of the three cruisers which meant 2-3 years work. Although the Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode dated 22 December published the same item this newspaper also said that the tidings was contradicted.
The Goessche Courant dated 30 March 1895 reported that the day before the yard was allowed to build one cruiser for her tender of ƒ 2.050.000. The Vlissingse Courant dated 1 April said that the tender was accepted on 28 March and that she was to be named Zeeland. The Middelburgsche Courant dated 8 April reported that the main dimensions were 93,30 (over all)-93,00 (waterline)-89,75 (between perpendiculars) x 14,75 (maximum outside trusses) x 5,50 (maximum with a displacement of 3,900 ton while completely fitted out and 400 ton coal) metres and a hold of 9,869metres and with a steel build hull.
The Vlissingse Courant dated 4 October reported that the officer engineer 1st class A. Jongkees of the navy yard of Amsterdam was appointed as supervisor over the building of the engines and boilers of her and her sister ship the Friesland.
The Middelburgsche Courant dated Friday 29 November reported that on Wednesday the keel was laid down in the presence of naval engineer J. ‘t Hooft, lieutenant 1st class F.J. Stam, officer engineer 2nd class S. Verschoor and the board of the yard.
The Goessche Courant dated Saturday 13 March 1897 reported that in the evening of Tuesday a painter man of Terneuzen was killed in an accident. The Middelburgsche Courant dated 15 March announced her launching on Saturday 20 March 15.00 o’clock.
The Vlissingse Courant dated 26 March reported that captain lieutenant W.J. de Bruijne was from 6 April detached at the yard to supervise her accomplishment and afterwards to become her 1st officer.
The Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode dated Saturday 18 September reported that the minister of navy Jansen visited on Thursday the ship.
The Middelburgsche Courant dated 7 October reported that in the morning of Tuesday the coppersmith named J.J. van der Kolk fell down but was able to go home around 12.30 o’clock thinking not being seriously wounded. When he wanted to visit his parents in law he became unwell and died short afterwards. The Vlissingse Courant dated 8 October confirmed this news. He was aged 25 years.
The Middelburgsche Courant dated 22 November reported that one boiler exploded caused by gas which flamed by a burning candle. The same newspaper reported on 30 November that two men were wounded in this accident. The Vlissingse Courant dated 19 November mentioned their names namely C. Burgers en C.J. Everaerts both being bench hand.
The Vlissingse Courant dated 24 December mentioned that captain A.G. Ellis now also was detached at the yard and that presumably was to become her commanding officer.
The Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode dated Thursday 13 January 1898 reported that last Saturday 15 fire picks belonging to the yard personnel strike because they wanted more food. Immediately were they replaced by naval fire picks.
With a displacement of 3,900 tons were her dimensions 93,30 x 14,81 x 5,40 metres. Her engines and 10 boilers driving 2 screws supplied 9,800 ihp allowing a speed of 19,47 miles. The coal bunker capacity was 850 tons. She was originally armed with 2-15cm guns, 6-12cm guns, 4-7.5cm guns, 8-3.7cm guns, 2-7.5cm mortars, 2 torpedo tubes and 2 torpedo guns. In 1908 were 4-3.7cm guns, 1-7.5cm guns and mortar removed. Her crew numbered 325 men. The armour consisted of a 50mm deck while the conning tower was protected by 100mm.
The Dutch magazine De Prins dated 30 October 1920 page 212 published this photo just before her departure towards Vigo. She left IJmuiden on 20 October towards Algiers and Malaga and returned on 18 December at Nieuwediep (Den Helder).
In Dutch newspapers you can follow the several stages of her building. I used just newspapers published in the province Zeeland.
The Goessche Courant dated 20 December 1894 that it was almost certain that the Schelde was allowed to build one of the three cruisers which meant 2-3 years work. Although the Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode dated 22 December published the same item this newspaper also said that the tidings was contradicted.
The Goessche Courant dated 30 March 1895 reported that the day before the yard was allowed to build one cruiser for her tender of ƒ 2.050.000. The Vlissingse Courant dated 1 April said that the tender was accepted on 28 March and that she was to be named Zeeland. The Middelburgsche Courant dated 8 April reported that the main dimensions were 93,30 (over all)-93,00 (waterline)-89,75 (between perpendiculars) x 14,75 (maximum outside trusses) x 5,50 (maximum with a displacement of 3,900 ton while completely fitted out and 400 ton coal) metres and a hold of 9,869metres and with a steel build hull.
The Vlissingse Courant dated 4 October reported that the officer engineer 1st class A. Jongkees of the navy yard of Amsterdam was appointed as supervisor over the building of the engines and boilers of her and her sister ship the Friesland.
The Middelburgsche Courant dated Friday 29 November reported that on Wednesday the keel was laid down in the presence of naval engineer J. ‘t Hooft, lieutenant 1st class F.J. Stam, officer engineer 2nd class S. Verschoor and the board of the yard.
The Goessche Courant dated Saturday 13 March 1897 reported that in the evening of Tuesday a painter man of Terneuzen was killed in an accident. The Middelburgsche Courant dated 15 March announced her launching on Saturday 20 March 15.00 o’clock.
The Vlissingse Courant dated 26 March reported that captain lieutenant W.J. de Bruijne was from 6 April detached at the yard to supervise her accomplishment and afterwards to become her 1st officer.
The Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode dated Saturday 18 September reported that the minister of navy Jansen visited on Thursday the ship.
The Middelburgsche Courant dated 7 October reported that in the morning of Tuesday the coppersmith named J.J. van der Kolk fell down but was able to go home around 12.30 o’clock thinking not being seriously wounded. When he wanted to visit his parents in law he became unwell and died short afterwards. The Vlissingse Courant dated 8 October confirmed this news. He was aged 25 years.
The Middelburgsche Courant dated 22 November reported that one boiler exploded caused by gas which flamed by a burning candle. The same newspaper reported on 30 November that two men were wounded in this accident. The Vlissingse Courant dated 19 November mentioned their names namely C. Burgers en C.J. Everaerts both being bench hand.
The Vlissingse Courant dated 24 December mentioned that captain A.G. Ellis now also was detached at the yard and that presumably was to become her commanding officer.
The Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode dated Thursday 13 January 1898 reported that last Saturday 15 fire picks belonging to the yard personnel strike because they wanted more food. Immediately were they replaced by naval fire picks.
