In 1683 a list was made of the ships, vessels and so on, belonging to the Dutch East Company. For most of the ships was given an indication of her condition, sometimes what kind of ship, her measurement and the first time she was outward bound. I added to each vessels some information using other sources.
Classification ‘A’ suitable for all fairways.
Classification ‘B’ suitable for calm fairways like in the Eastern provinces, Malacca, Siam, West Coast of Sumatra, Palembang and Jambij.
Classification ‘C’ just suitable for some service in the Indies, mainly off the East Coast of Java and other factories.
Aardenburgh, fluyt, Chamber Zealand, bought 1672 (earlier in Admiralty service?), dimensions 128 x 29 x 13. Measurement 250 last and 482 metric tons tonnage. Classification between ‘B’ and C’. Departed the Wielingen 15 August 1675 with 100 men, stayed at Cape of Good Hope around 23 January-14 February 1676 and arrived Tuticorin 17 May 1676. Had to go towards Onrust for repairs before service. Was expected to arrive any moment but it was still unknown when actually there was to be a opportunity to repair her. Sank near Buton August 1685.
Berckmeer, fluyt, Chamber Enkhuizen, built 1676 at Amsterdan, dimensions 128 x 27 x 13. tonnage 454 metric tons and measurement 250 last. Classification between ‘A’ and ‘B’. Departed Texel 14 December 1676, returned and departed again 3 May 1677, stayed at Cape of Good Hope 20 September-2 October 1677 and arrived at Batavia 29 December 1677 with 71 sailors and 29 soldiers. In 1683 repaired/rebuilt at Onrust and departed via Ceylon towards Bengal. Could be used for 4-5 years if she was taken care of. Laid up at Malacca 1690.
Civetkat, cat ‘without ears’, also called fluyt, chamber Amsterdam, built >1679-1680 at Amsterdam<, dimensions 110-115 x 23 x 11½, length hold 78’0”, Dutch measurement cargo capacity 178 last, measurement at Batavia, Dutch East Indies cargo capacity 160 last, capacity hold bruto 17112.30½ cubic feet, netto 15615.90¼ cubic feet. According to Bruijn 290 metric tons tonnage. The reporter just wrote that she was new, seldom not used and without doubts wel taken care of and last year transported a cargo with a value of 200.000 guilders. Classification ‘A’. Departed 19 December 1680 Texel with 82 sailors, stayed at Cape of Good Hope 24 May-13 June 1681, arrived via S. Tago and Tutocorin (12 August) Ceylon 12 September 1681. Laid up at Batavia December 1696.
Drakenstijn, cat ‘without ears’, also called fluytship and fluyt, chamber Amsterdam, built >1680-1681 at Amsterdam<, dimensions 102-103’3”(prow) x 24 x 110, length hold 72’25”, Dutch measurement cargo capacity 122 last, measurement at Batavia, Dutch East Indies cargo capacity 100 last (also in list dated 1683). Measured 22 June 1689 capacity hold bruto 15477.01 cubic feet, netto 14289.63¼ cubic feet. According to Bruijn 256 metric tons tonnage. Classification ‘A’. Departed 9 February 1682 with master Kornels Poort, stayed at Cape of Good Hope 18-27 June 1682, arrived at Batavia 31 August with 48 sailors. In 1683 repaired/rebuilt at Onrust and sent towards Ceylon to serve over there. Laid up at Batavia 1697.
Ipesteyn, fluyt, E.I.C.-chamber Hoorn, built 1671, dimensions 115 x 23 x 11¾. Measurement 100 last. Classification between ‘B’ and C’. Unknown to the reporter but according to the advices of Ceylon largely worn out, not due to the age but more to lacking enough carpenters causing it nearly impossible to take good care of. The same problem were other ships dealing with. Departed Texel 11 December 1671 with 53 sailors, stayed at Cape of Good Hope 28 April-2 June 1672 and arrived at Tuticorin 28 July 1672.
Opmeer, fluyt, also called kat, chamber Enkhuizen, built at Hoorn 1671, dimensions 100 (according to Hudde) and 115 x 23 x 11½ (according to Stapel), Dutch measurement cargo capacity 111 last, measurement at Batavia, Dutch East Indies cargo capacity 100 last (also in list dated 1683). Classification between ‘A’ and ‘B’. Suitable for another 3-4 years in calm waters. Recently repaired and able to serve 3-4 years in calm waters so without problems in September departed for Canara for a cargo of rice destined for Ceylon and to transport to the latter factory. Departed Texel 11 December 1671 with 49 sailors, stayed at Cape of Good Hope 28 April-2 June 1672 and arrived at Tuticorin 28 July 1672. Laid up and sold at Batavia 22 May 1688.
Small yachts: Trinquenemale, Codjaar and ’t Casteel Colombo.
Hookers: Bergeendt (1), den Eegel, Lijster, Kogmeeuw and Swemmer.
Chialoupen: Negombo, Jaffanapatnam, Rosekrans, Oliphant, Eendragt, Manaar, Sperwer and some others.
Boat: Caliture.
Some smaller vessels.
Sources
Archief V.O.C. no. 11250 (National Archive at The Hague).
Collectie Hudde 1627-1697 no. 21 (National Archive at The Hague).
J.R. Bruijn e.d. Dutch-Asiatic Shipping in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Vol II. Outward-bound voyages from the Netherlands to Asia and the Cape (1595-1794). The Hague, 1979, p. 81-85.
F.W. van Stapel. Beschrijvinge van de O.I. Compagnie.
Note
1. Bruijn mentioned a hooker Bergeend, tonnage of 90 metric tons, chamber Hoorn, built at Hoorn 1672, departed Texel 18 December 1672, captured by the British, retaken by a privateer of Zealand and restored in Zeeland and departed again 26 Mat 1673 from the Wielingen, stayed at Cape of Good Hope 2-14 October 1673 and arrived December 1672 at Ceylon. Laid up at Ceylon in 1690.
