Year after year the Dutch West India Company (W.I.C.) sent ships loaded with soldiers and stores towards Brazil. There was a fierce fight with the Portuguese going on to possess this colony and the possessions like Angola in Africa. Just like the Dutch E.I.C. the W.I.C. was divided in chambers. Very important for the history of the W.I.C. are the books written by Joannes de Laet titled Iaerlijk Verhael (Annual Story) for the period 1624-1636. One of the main reasons for this importance is the fact that most of the original records are lost or in a worse condition. I translated the list published for the year 1623 of the ships departed for Pernambuco. The fleet was commanded by admiral Jacob Willekens of Amsterdam and vice admiral Piet Hein o f Rotterdam.
Chamber Amsterdam
Hollandia, 300 last, 6 bronze guns, 22 iron guns, 100 sailors, 218 soldiers, date arrival 10 May
Zeelandia, 300 last. 12 bronze guns, 24iron guns, 113 sailors, 100 soldiers, date arrival May
Provincie van Utrecht, 250 last, 2 bronze guns 18 iron guns, 89 sailors, 100 soldiers, date arrival May
Eendracht, also called Speelman and Schip van Speelman, 250 last, 20 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
St. Christoffel, 250 last, 18 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Hope 200 last, 18 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Nassauw 190 last, 16 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
4 Haymskinderen, 240 last, 17 iron guns, hired, 50 sailors, 90 soldiers, date arrival May
Anonymous, (probably Jager) 180 last, 16 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Gelderland, date arrival May
Overijssel, 200 last, 16 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Haen, 250 last, 18 iron guns hired 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Chamber Zealand
Tijger, 350 last, 6 bronze guns 20 iron guns -100 sailors, 150 soldiers, date arrival May
Gulde Zeepaert, 300 last, -8 iron guns -40 125 date arrival May
Postpaert, 60 last, -6 iron guns -40 25 date arrival May
Chamber Rotterdam
Neptunus, 230 last, 6 bronze guns 22 iron guns, totally 187 men, date arrival May
Oragnien-Boom, 200 last, 2 bronze guns, 16 iron guns, 43 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Zee-Jaeger, yacht, 70 last, 10 iron guns, totally 52 men, date arrival May
Haese-Windt, yacht, 65 last, 10 iron guns, totally 51 men, date arrival May
Chamber Noorderkwartier
Samson, 300 last, 4 iron guns 30 bronze guns?, 110 sailors?, 110 soldiers?, date arrival May
Oude Roode Leeuw, 300 last, 18 iron guns, hired, 42 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Oragnien-Boom, 150 last, 14 iron guns, hired, 42 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Chamber Stad en Lande/Groningen
Sterre, 300 last, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Groeningen, 300 last, 8 bronze guns, 16 iron guns, 150 sailors, 248 soldiers, date arrival May
Vos, yacht, 120 last, 12 iron guns, hired, 35 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
St. Marten, hired, date arrival May
Chamber Amsterdam
Hollandia, 300 last, 6 bronze guns, 22 iron guns, 100 sailors, 218 soldiers, date arrival 10 May
Zeelandia, 300 last. 12 bronze guns, 24iron guns, 113 sailors, 100 soldiers, date arrival May
Provincie van Utrecht, 250 last, 2 bronze guns 18 iron guns, 89 sailors, 100 soldiers, date arrival May
Eendracht, also called Speelman and Schip van Speelman, 250 last, 20 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
St. Christoffel, 250 last, 18 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Hope 200 last, 18 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Nassauw 190 last, 16 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
4 Haymskinderen, 240 last, 17 iron guns, hired, 50 sailors, 90 soldiers, date arrival May
Anonymous, (probably Jager) 180 last, 16 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Gelderland, date arrival May
Overijssel, 200 last, 16 iron guns, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Haen, 250 last, 18 iron guns hired 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Chamber Zealand
Tijger, 350 last, 6 bronze guns 20 iron guns -100 sailors, 150 soldiers, date arrival May
Gulde Zeepaert, 300 last, -8 iron guns -40 125 date arrival May
Postpaert, 60 last, -6 iron guns -40 25 date arrival May
Chamber Rotterdam
Neptunus, 230 last, 6 bronze guns 22 iron guns, totally 187 men, date arrival May
Oragnien-Boom, 200 last, 2 bronze guns, 16 iron guns, 43 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Zee-Jaeger, yacht, 70 last, 10 iron guns, totally 52 men, date arrival May
Haese-Windt, yacht, 65 last, 10 iron guns, totally 51 men, date arrival May
Chamber Noorderkwartier
Samson, 300 last, 4 iron guns 30 bronze guns?, 110 sailors?, 110 soldiers?, date arrival May
Oude Roode Leeuw, 300 last, 18 iron guns, hired, 42 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Oragnien-Boom, 150 last, 14 iron guns, hired, 42 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Chamber Stad en Lande/Groningen
Sterre, 300 last, hired, 40 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
Groeningen, 300 last, 8 bronze guns, 16 iron guns, 150 sailors, 248 soldiers, date arrival May
Vos, yacht, 120 last, 12 iron guns, hired, 35 sailors, 50 soldiers, date arrival May
St. Marten, hired, date arrival May
