1 The Dutch Navy in 1700; Effective and Potential strength
- Content
- 1 The Dutch Navy in 1700; Effective and Potential strength
- 2 The Dutch navy in 1688
- 2.1 The Dutch Navy fighting in alliance with England
- 2.2 The 1689 orders of the Dutch Navy
- 3 The Dutch Fleet in the Battle of Beachy head
- 4 The Dutch Fleet at Barfleur / La Hogue
- 5 Decline of the Dutch fleet in the 1690's?
- 6 The Dutch fleet in the War of the Spanish Succession
- 6.1 Dutch ships actually serving during the War of the Spanish Succession
- 6.2 The Admiralty of Zeeland
- 7 Potential strength during and after the War of the Spanish Succession
- 8 Notes
- Alleged painting of the Briele
- Painted by Ludolf Bakhuysen in 1689
In 1700 the United Provinces still dominated international trade. The Dutch navy was there to protect this trade, and in 1674 the Dutch had proven to effectively have the strongest navy. This concept of 'effective strength' is very important. In 1674 the enemy had a greater potential strength, but was not able to equip all its ships and was beaten.
The effective strength sees to the number of ships that were actually equipped, the potential strength sees to the number of serviceable (after repairs) ships a nation had. Nominal strength would include those ships that were on the list, but not reparable. In 1688 the Dutch navy would again have the largest effective strength for some time, but by 1700 its effective strength made it the second or third navy.
The 90 gun three-decker King William to the right is the perfect illustration of the concept of effective and potential strength. During the War of the Spanish Succession the Admiralty of Zeeland kept the ship in a servicable state. During the naval campaigns of the war it preferred to equip smaller ships, but a real necessity would have led to the King William sailing.
2 The Dutch navy in 1688
The Invasion of England in 1688 was the last time the United Provinces manifested themselves as a great power at sea. The invasion was possible because the Dutch navy had a greater effective strength than its enemy. If James II had been a more popular or smarter monarch, he could have equipped a far larger number of the ships he had. It's very doubtful that in such case the Dutch would have dared their invasion with a fleet that was so small and consisted of such light ships.
2.1 The Dutch Navy fighting in alliance with England
In 1689 a new era started for the Dutch, fighting as junior partners in a lasting alliance with England. The Dutch still had about 70 ships of the Line, and they actually increased the power of their navy. However, England outbuilt them and by 1700 they were definitly the junior partners in the alliance.
2.2 The 1689 orders of the Dutch Navy
The Dutch Fleet at the end of 1689 and its orders sorted on no. of guns/size | ||||
Ship | Captain | Guns | Orders | Men |
West Vrieslant (N) | VA Callenburgh | 80 | Back to the UP | 450 |
Voorzichtigheid (M) | RA Brakel | 74 | Back to the UP | 400 |
Vrijheid (M) | Rees | 72 | To Med. | 400 |
Gelderland (A) | VA Almonde | 72 | To Med. | 400 |
Walcheren (M) | LA Evertsen | 70 | Back to the UP, sunk Vlissingen | 400 |
Hollandia (A) | Toll | 70 | To Med. | 360 |
Eendracht (M) | Snelle | 70 | To Med. sunk in storm 6 Jan. 1690 | 357 |
Noort Holland (N) | RA Dick | 70 | To Med. | 300 |
Amsterdam (A) | Graaf van Nassau | 64 | To Med. | 315 |
Haerlem (A) | Manard | 64 | To Med. | 325 |
Callandsoog (M) | Van Zeyl | 64 | Back to the UP | 325 |
Gekroonde Burg (M) | VA van der Putten | 62 | Back to the UP | 350 |
Zierikzee (Z) | RA Evertzen | 62 | To Med. | 328 |
Veere (M) | Mosselman | 60 | Back to the UP | 300 |
Ridderschap (M) | De Liefde | 60 | To Med. | 300 |
Prov. Utrecht (A) | Decker | 56 | Cruise in Channel | 315 |
Gaasterland (A) | Taelman | 52 | To Med. | 210 |
Vrede (A) | Van Laren | 52 | To Med. | 210 |
Elswout (A) | Van Nieuburg | 52 | Cruise in Channel | 210 |
Wapen van Hoorn (N) | Muys | 52 | To Med. | 200 |
Tyger (N) | Berckhout | 52 | Cruise in Channel | 200 |
Alida (N) | Kalf | 52 | Cruise in Channel | 200 |
Honselaarsdijk (M) | Convent | 50 | Cruise in Channel | 200 |
Cortiene (Z) | De Boer | 50 | Cruise in Channel | 200 |
Schattershoef (A) | Van der Goes | 46 | Cruise in Channel | 210 |
Europa (F) | Hidde de Vries | 48 | Back to the UP | 170 |
Vlaardingen (N) | Pael | 46 | To Med. | 170 |
De Winthont (F) | Jentema | 34 | To Med. | 150 |
De Brack (F) | Dirck de Vries | 36 | To Med. | 150 |
Damiaten (A) | Van Gijsen | 36 | Cruise in Channel | 140 |
Phoenix (M) | Cap. Brakel | 26 | Cruise in Channel | 110 |
Freg. Kroonvogel (M) | Com. Regat | 14 | Back to the UP | 50 |
Frigat (N) | Com. Gros | 14 | Back to the UP | 42 |
Bur. Vesuvius (A) | Com. du Pon | - | To Med. | ? |
Bur. Maegt v. Enkhu.(N) | Com. Muysevanger | 6 | To Med. | 22 |
Bur. Zes Gebroeders (A) | Com. de Jonge | 6 | Cruise in Channel | 22 |
Bur. Etna (M) | Com. Antonisse | 6 | Back to the UP | 22 |
Amsterdam ships of the Dutch Fleet as of 1689 into 1690 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ship | captain in 1687 | captain in 1688 | captain later | end 89 | During Beachy head | men | Built |
Pr Maria(92) | Gilles Schey'90 | At Beachy head | L. 1683 | ||||
Pr Willem(92) | L. 1687 | ||||||
Keurvorst v Brandenburg(92) | L. 1689 | ||||||
Keurvorstin v Brandenburg(92) | L. 1689 | ||||||
Keurvorst v Saksen(92) | L. 1689 | ||||||
Gelderland(72) | VA Almonde | To Med. | Med | 400 | L. 1683 | ||
Hollandia(70) | Toll | To Med. | Med and At Beachy head | 360 | L. 1683 | ||
Reygersbergen(74) | Van Zeyl April '901y | ? | Beachy head, to vZyl April 1690* | 400 | |||
Wapen van Utrecht(66) | Schey'88 | Sinks at Beachy head, captain Decker | 300 | ||||
Amsterdam (64) | Graaf van Nassau | To Med. | Med | 315 | L. 1688 | ||
Haerlem (64) | Manard | To Med. | Med | 325 | L. 1688 | ||
Zeeland(64) | Dussen '88 | L. 1683 | |||||
Zeeland(64) | Docked 19/7 OHC | L. 1690 | |||||
Leyden(64) | Bastiaanse'88 | Docked 19/7 OHC | L. 1687 | ||||
Friesland(62) | Graef van Nassau'88 | ? | were there 2 Frieslands? | ||||
Friesland(64) | Sinks At Beachy head | L. 1690 | |||||
Prov. Utrecht (62) | Decker | Cruise in Channel | Docked 19/7 OHC | 295 | |||
Gideon(60) | Hardenbroeck in'88 | ? | Docked 19/7 OHC | 210 | |||
Akerboom(60) | Jan Bouwens in '88 | 210 |
Amsterdam ships of the Dutch Fleet as of 1689 into 1690 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ship | captain in 1687 | captain in 1688 | captain later | end 89 | During Beachy head | men | Built |
Gaasterland (52) | Taelman | To Med. | Med then maint? Docked | 210 | L. 1688 | ||
Stad en Lande(52) | Van Laer 30/4/87 | Pieter Laren '88 | At Beachy head | L. 1683 | |||
Vrede (52) | Decker in '88 | Van Laren '90 | To Med. | Med. | 210 | ||
Elswout (52) | Van Zyl '88 | Van Nieuburg '90 | Cruise in Channel | Med and At Beachy head | 210 | ||
Beemster(52) | Tol '88 | Docked 19/7 OHC | 200 | L. 1686 | |||
Castricum(50) | Van Basse '88 | Cuyper apr'901z | At Beachy head, to Cuyper apr1690* | L. 1686 | |||
Agatha(50) | Joan Kuyper in '88 | Van der Zaen | At Beachy head | ||||
Schattershoef (46) | A. Manard in '88 | Van der Goes | Cruise in Channel | Med then maint? | 210 | ||
Maria Elisabeth(46) | W. van der Zaen '88 | 170 | L. 1685 | ||||
Nimwegen(46) | G. Hooft '88 | Benthem late '90 | 190 | ||||
Catharina(46) | Swaen in Med. 88 back jun 89 | Van Gendere May'90 | captured oct 90 | L. 1685 | |||
Harderwijk(46) | C. van der Zaan '88 | 175 | |||||
Wapen vd Schermer(44) | L. 1690 | ||||||
Noort Holland(44) | van der Gijse '88 | Swaen1w | At Beachy head | ||||
Grijpskerk(40) | L. 1689 |
Amsterdam frigates of the Dutch Fleet as of 1689 into 1692 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ship | 1687 | 1688 | 1689 | 1690 | 1691 | 1692 and further | Men/Built |
Wap. Sneek (36) | Ph van der Goes '88 | At Pampus 260391 | Van Bassen 13031692 & 201092 & dec92 | L. 1687 | |||
Wulpenburg(32) | A. Noorthey '88 | Crajesteyn 0080192 | 130 | ||||
Groenwijf(36) | Dussen Jan'90 | 240591 Texel | 070792 Texel | ||||
Hasewint(32) | P. van der Dussen '88 | 070792 Texel | 130 | ||||
Juffr. Anna(38) | Dirk Schey '88 | Weppel 230391 | 280692 Duinkerken | 130/L. 1689 | |||
Damiaten (36) | Hogenhoeck '88 | Van Gijsen | Gendere 220891 | vrozen in early 92 | 140 | ||
Raadhuis Edam(36) | A. Taelman '88 | op stroom 12061691 | Bassen april 94 | L. 1688 | |||
Zwolle(36) | L. 1688 | ||||||
Landskroon(36) | 2jul91 Broeder AC0407 | L. 1688 | |||||
Oudkarspel(36) | Nieuburg feb87 | A. Stilte '88 | 130 | ||||
Asperen(36) | Nieuburg '88 | 130 |
Amsterdam ships of the Dutch Fleet as of 1689 into 1690 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ship | 1687 | 1688 | 89 | 90 | During Beachy head | men | Built |
Jager(26) | L. 1689 | ||||||
Vliegende Mercurius(12) | Comm. Lamoureux 1 april '901a | L. 1689 | |||||
Bur. Vesuvius (-) | Com. du Pon | To Med. | ? | ||||
Bur. Zes Gebroeders (7) | Com. de Jonge | Cruise in Channel | 22 | ||||
AC 6 april 1690 |
Meuse 1689 into 1692 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ship | 1687 | 1688 | 1689 | 1690 | 1691 | 1692 and further | Men/Built |
Schieland () | 25Apr90van Eden | ||||||
Wapen van Rotterdam () | 17dec91Forman | ||||||
Gorcum () | feb90 | l'Amoureux | |||||
() | |||||||
() | |||||||
() | |||||||
() | |||||||
Samuel Forman |
The idea behind making a particular list for the Amsterdam Admiralty in 1690, is that I have the names of the captains of the 3 Convoyers to Bilboa, but not the names of their ships. The attempt to list all Amsterdam ships for that year, and then to see which are left for the 3 should indicate which ships we should look for. There is a list of ships that were taken out of dock on 19 July 1690 OHC 20 July 1690.
The Bilboa convoy left in December 1689, and returned on 4 June 1690.
Let's have a look at the orders Admiral William III gave his fleet on 6 November 16891b. The orders to go to the Mediterranean were not executed, but are there for reference. What is interesting is that in these orders 30 ships of more than 30 guns are mentioned, but only about 10 can be tracked back to the 1688 list. This means that the potential strength of the Dutch navy was at least the 39 ships of the line in the invasion fleet plus 20 others mentioned in the 1689 orders, making 59 ships. Supposing that another 10 were sailing around or being repaired somewhere, we come to a total of about 70 ships of the line for the Dutch at the end of 1689.
3 The Dutch Fleet in the Battle of Beachy head
The role of the Dutch fleet in this 1690 battle is described in the battle of Beachy head. One has to remember that only a part of the Dutch fleet was in this battle, and therefore the fact that the Dutch division was smaller does not say that much.
4 The Dutch Fleet at Barfleur / La Hogue
The Battle of Barfleur / La Hogue in 1692 saw about 27 Dutch to about 56 English ships of the line. Particulars about this are in the battle of Barfleur.
5 Decline of the Dutch fleet in the 1690's?
Dutch Navy ships actually serving in 1696 | ||||
Ship | Captain | Guns | Men | Remarks |
The Battle fleet | ||||
Vrijheid (A) | LA van Almonde | 96 | 550 | Med. 1705 |
Zeven provinciën (M) | VA van Callenburgh | 90 | 525 | Med. 1702; 1705 |
Zeelandia (Z) | VA Gel. Evertsen | 90 | 550 | |
Kon. Willem (Z) | RA N.A. den Boer | 90 | 530 | |
West Vriesland (N) | RA Muys | 90 | 500 | |
Prinses Maria (A) | Graaf van Nassau | 92 | 500 | |
Unie (A) | Van der Dussen | 94 | 500 | Med. 1705 |
Beschermer (N) | De Boer | 90 | 475 | Med. 1705 |
Eerste Edele (Z) | Mosselman | 74 | 400 | |
Ridderschap (M) | RA Ph. van der Goes | 72 | 400 | |
Dordrecht (M) | E. de Liefde | 72 | 375 | Med. 1702 |
Holland (M) | A. Pieterson | 72 | 375 | Med. 1702 |
Maze (M) | J. van der Goes | 72 | 375 | |
Deventer (A) | A. van Toll | 72 | 400 | Med. 1705 |
Katwijk (A) | Van Laeren | 72 | 400 | Med. 1702; 1704 |
Slot Muyden (A) | Ph. Schryver | 72 | 400 | Med. 1702; 1705 |
Elswout (A) | Draex | 72 | 375 | Med. 1705 |
Gouda (A) | A. Manart | 72 | 400 | Med. 1702 |
Holland (A) | Hogenhoeck | 72 | 375 | Med. 1705 |
Walcheren (Z) | La Palma | 72 | 400 | Med. 1705 |
Maagd v. Enkhuizen (N) | J. de Jongh | 72 | 375 | |
Noorderkwartier (N) | Bolck | 72 | 375 | Built 1690 sold ca 1720 |
Munnikendam (N) | Reijnhals | 72 | 375 | |
Alkmaar (N) | Roos | 72 | 375 | Med. 1702; 1705 |
Veluwe (M) | Van Convent | 66 | 340 | Med. 1702 |
Zeeland (M) | Van Regteren | 64 | 325 | |
Leijden (A) | Graaf v. Bentheim | 64 | 325 | |
Haarlem (A) | J. Bar. van Wassenaar | 64 | 325 | |
Amsterdam (A) | Van der Gysen | 64 | 325 | |
Banier (A) | Lynslager | 64 | 325 | |
Dieren (A) | Beeckman | 64 | 325 | |
Dom v. Utrecht (A) | Jolle Jollesz | 64 | 325 | |
Zierikzee (Z) | Boom | 64 | 325 | Med. 1705 |
Frisia (F) | Stoffel Middagten | 64 | 310 | |
Prins Friso (F) | Bar. J. van Ghendt | 64 | 310 | |
Wassenaer (M) | Corn. van Brakel | 60 | 325 | |
Delft (M) | Zas v.d. Bossche | 50 | 210 | |
Vrede (A) | Swaan | 50 | 210 | |
Medemblik (N) | Poeleway | 50 | 210 | |
Sneek (A) | Leyden a Leeuwen | 44 | 165 | |
Valkenier (N) | Van Veen | 40 | 160 | |
Schoonoord (A) | Teenhgs | 30 | 110 | |
Zeist (Z) | Coorde | 30 | 130 |
It's often supposed that though the Dutch built a reasonable number of good ships in the 1690's the strength of the fleet decreased in the 1690's. For this we have tables of Dutch ships actually serving in 1696, taken from appendix XIX of the 'Geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Zeewezen'2. It was aggregated by the author from lists provided by Almonde, Van Zijl and archives of the admiralties. The list does make clear that an appraisal of Dutch navy is not only about the main battle fleet, but also about counting all the ships that were engaged in other duties.
Dutch Navy ships actually serving in 1696 | ||||
Ship | Captain | Guns | Men | Remarks |
The North Sea fleet | ||||
Het Loo (A) | Van Zyll | 64 | 325 | |
Wapen van Utrecht (N) | Grauw | 64 | 325 | |
Arnhem (N) | Cromhout | 64 | 325 | |
Aemilia (F) | Beyma | 58 | 275 | Med. 1705 |
Goes (Z) | Wiltschut | 54 | 250 | |
Vlissingen (Z) | Tresel | 54 | 250 | Med. 1705 |
De Zon (A) | Van Genderen | 52 | 230 | |
Nijmegen (A) | J. Erasmus | 50 | 210 | Med. 1704 |
Damiaten (A) | Sommelsdyck | 50 | 210 | |
Prov. Utrecht (M) | Wass. Starrenburgh | 48 | 210 | |
Noord Holland (A) | Roncke | 46 | 180 | |
Drakensteyn (A) | Regoot | 44 | 165 | |
Cortgene (Z) | Courte | 44 | 208 | |
Mercurius (Z) | Danckers | 40 | 220 | |
Groenwijf | Sincke Binckes | 36 | 140 | |
Kruidberg | Comm. Toll de Jonge | 30 | 110 |
Dutch Navy ships actually serving in 1696 | ||||
Ship | Captain | Guns | Men | Remarks |
Escort ships | ||||
Ripperda (A) | De Veer | 50 | 210 | |
Muiderburg (A) | Van de Perre | 50 | 210 | |
Schiedam (M) | Van der Pot | 50 | 210 | |
Wapen v.d. Schermer (A) | C. Hogenhoeck | 44 | 200 | |
Edam (A) | Comm. Hubert | 44 | 165 | |
Gorcum (M) | Comm. Heemskerk | 40 | 160 | |
Raadhuis v Haarlem (A) | Comm. Bucking | 38 | 150 | |
Graaf van Solms (A) | Comm. Manart de Jonge | 38 | 150 | |
Soestdijk (A) | Kapt.lt. v.d. Bergh | 38 | 150 | |
Beschutter (A) | Comm. Vlies | 38 | 150 | |
Rozendaal (M) | Comm. Forman | 38 | 200 | |
Landskroon (A) | L. Lieuwkens | 36 | 135 | |
Anna (A) | Roemer Vlacq | 36 | 130 | |
Schoterbroek (A) | Comm. van Royen | 34 | 110 | |
Weldam (A) | Comm. Is. Sweers | 34 | 110 | |
Wulpenburg (A) | Comm. Gouwenaar | 34 | 110 | |
Wolf (A) | Comm. Bremburg | 34 | 110 | |
Briel (M) | Van Cooperen | 34 | 110 | |
Heusden (M) | Comm. Is. Hanedoes | 34 | 110 | |
Rotterdam (M) | Comm. van Wyligh | 34 | 110 | |
Oud Naarden (A) | Comm. W. Schot | 30 | 120 | |
De Brak (A) | Zhum | 30 | 110 |
This is followed by a table of those ships in actual service. This gives a number of ships of the line of 81 if one counts the ships with 30-38 guns. For getting the potential strength some have to be added for those ships that did not see service in 1696.
When one also takes into account the modernization of the fleet towards bigger ships with heavier guns, one can only conclude that during the 1690's the Dutch navy significantly increased in strength.
Summary of 1696 | ||
Number | guns | men |
8 | 90-96 | 500-550 |
16 | 72-74 | 375-400 |
15 | 60-66 | 310-340 |
12 | 50-58 | 210-275 |
10 | 40-48 | 160-210 |
20 | 30-38 | 110-150 |
13 | 20-26 | 75-136 |
8 | 8-18 | 40-120 |
9 | burners | 22 |
6 The Dutch fleet in the War of the Spanish Succession
6.1 Dutch ships actually serving during the War of the Spanish Succession
During the War of the Spanish Succession the Dutch still had a good navy, but its effective strength would drop far below that of the English. Based on countings I would put the effective strengh of the Dutch navy during the War of the Spanish Succession at about 50 mainly small ships of the line. Of these 10-15 of the largest would each year sail with the English in the Mediterranean, about 10 would be in the North Sea of before Dunkirk and perhaps two dozen others were on various convoy duties. The real significance of this is however not in the numbers, but in the fact that the Dutch opted to oppose the Guerre de Course and left the direct struggle for control of the seas to the English.
The matters of how strong the Dutch navy was and whether it was crippled by the War of the Spanish Succession could be answered by checking which of the above ships were serving in 1702 or later, what happened to them and which new ships were built. I've tried to do so here, but the list is rather incomplete.
Dutch Navy ships during the War of the Spanish Succession | ||||
Ship | Captain | Guns | Direct source3 | Other sources4 |
Zeven Provincien (M) | VA Van der Goes 02 | 92 | Vigo 1702; Lisbon 1705 | wrecked 1706 |
Vrijheid (A) | Almonde 05 | 96 | Hol. 1702; Lisbon 05; Barcelona 1705 | L. 1695, bu 1723 |
Unie (A) | RA Wassenaar 02, 05 | 94 | Vigo 1702; Malaga 1704; Lisbon 1705 | L. 1692 bu 1721 |
Beschermer (N) | Van der Goes 05 | 90 | Lisbon 1705; Med. 1707 | |
Prins Willem (A) | van Gent | 92 | Med. 1707 | L. 1688 bu 1718 |
Amsterdam (A) | 96 | L. 1712, bu 1737 | ||
Kv. v. Brandenburg (A) | 92 | L. 1688 bu 1715 | ||
Kvi. v. Brandenburg (A) | 92 | L. 1688 bu 1715 | ||
Katwijk (A) | Beekman 02 | 72 | Vigo 1702; Malaga 1704 | L. 1694, bu 1724 |
(Slot) Muyden | Schryver 02; Jollesen | 72 | Vigo 1702; Lisbon 1705 | L. 1692, bu 1732 |
Reigersbergen (A) | Lijnslager 02, Schrijver 05 | 72 | Vigo 1702, Lisbon 1705 | L. 1693, bu 1721 |
Dordrecht (M) | Van der Pott 02 | 72 | Vigo 1702, Malaga 1704 | |
Holland (M) | Convent/Callenburg 02 | 72 | Vigo 1702, Barcelona 1705 | |
Alkmaar (N?) | Pieterson 02, Goes 05 | 72 | Vigo 1702; Lisbon 1705 | |
Monnikendam (N) | 72 | 1703 drifted; Med. 1707 | Built 1691 s. 1720 | |
Nijmegen (A) | H. Lijnslager 04+ | 72 | Malaga 1704 | L. 1694, bu 1722 |
Eerste Edele (Z) | RA Boom 08 | 74 | 1703 equip., 1708 Dunkirk | |
Walcheren (Z) | Nossen 05 | 70 | 1704 equip., Lisbon 1705, 1708 to Dunkirk | |
Deventer (A) | De Veer 05 | 72 | Barcelona 1705; Med. 1707 | L. 1694, bu 1720 |
Utrecht | 72 | Med. 1707 | ||
Ridderschap (M) | Van Convent | 72 | Med. 1707 | |
P. Utrecht (A) | 72 | 1712 at Mahon | L. 1703, bu 1725 | |
Zeelandia (A) | 72 | 1712 at Mahon; for sale 1716 | L. 1710, s. 1717 | |
Rotterdam (M) | Starrenburg 05 | 74 | Lisbon 1705, 1711 Portsm.; 1712 at Mahon | |
Gelderland (A) | Kopere 05 | 72 | 1705 Lisbon, 1715 Danzig | L. 1711, s. 1717 |
Noorderkwartier (N) | 72 | Built 1690 s. 1720 | ||
Elswout (A) | Sommelsdijk 05 | 72 | 1705 Lisbon | L. 1691, bu 1721 |
Hollandia (A) | 72 | Livorno 1710; for sale 1716 | L. 1702, bu 1725 | |
Zeven Steden | Nieustadt 05 | 72 | Lisbon 1705 | |
Veluwe (M) | Wassenaar Sta. 02 | 64 | Vigo 1702; Gibr. 1704 | |
Gouda (A) | Sommelsdijk 02 | 64 | Vigo 1702 | bu 1720 |
Albemarle (N) | Bolck | 64 | 1702 Zeeland; 1703 Portugal; S. after Malaga 1704 | |
Zierikzee (Z) | Tressel 05 | ca 60 | equip 1702; Lisbon 1705 | |
Wassenaar (M) | 64 | Med. 1707 | ||
Veere | 60 | Med. 1707 | ||
Banier (A) | 64 | Malaga 1704, Med. 1707 | L. 1691, bu 1718 | |
Loo (A) | 64 | Med. 1707 | L. 1693, bu 1716 | |
Aemilia (A) | Beeckman 04; 05, Dussen 05 | 64 | Gibr. 1704; Gibr. 1705; Med. 1707? | L. 1699, bu 1727 |
Pr. Amilia (?) | Leeuwen 05 | 52 | Lisbon 1705 | L. 1699, bu 1727 |
Frisia (F) | Middagten | 64 | Gibr. 1704; Malaga 1704 | |
Leeuw (A) | Veth 08 | 64 | Malaga 1704; Med. 1707; 1708 Dunkirk; 1712 at Mahon | L. 1700, bu 1714 |
W. van Utrecht (N?) | Bolk | 64? | Gibr. 1704; Malaga 1704; Med. 1707; Livorno 1710 | Sunk Feb 1710 |
Daelem (A) | Nieuwenhuis 11 | 64 | 1711 Lisbon; 1712 at Mahon | L. 1708, s. 1717 |
Loosdrecht (A) | 64 | 1712 at Mahon | L. 1710, bu 1739 | |
Arnhem (N) | Roos 11 | 64 | 1711 Lisbon; 1712 at Mahon | |
Raadhuis v. Edam (A) | 64 | L. 1700, bu 1727 | ||
Prin Friso (A) | 64 | 1710 Livorno | L. 1708, s. 1717 | |
Boetzelaer (A) | 64 | L. 1711, bu 1739 | ||
Vlissingen (Z) | Okkerse 05; Coorde 05 | 54 | 1703 equip.; Malaga 1704; 1705 Gibraltar | |
Veere (Z) | 54 | 1703 equip.; 1705 Lisbon; 1706 Lisbon | ||
Muiderberg (A) | Roemer Vlak | 52 | Burned in battle of Laroque 1703 | |
Overijssel (A) | Pieterson, Boudaan 05 | 52 | 03; 1705 Lisbon, 1708 Dunkirk | L. 1696, bu 1728 |
Nieuwenhuis (A) | Teengs 05; Ofzen 11 | 52 | Texel 1705; 1711 Lisbon | L. 1700, bu 1731 |
Kaysersweert (A) | J. van den Bosch | 52 | Edinburgh 1705, 1708 Dunkirk | L. 1700?, bu 1728 |
Schieland (M?) | 50 | Med. 1707 | ||
Zon (A) | Comm. van Kerchem | 52 | Dunkirk 1708 | L. 1694, bu 1723 |
Batavier (A) | Francken | 52 | Dunkirk 1708 | L. 1699, bu 1724 |
Schattershoef (A) | 50 | L. 1672, bu 1713 | ||
Ripperda (A) | 52 | L. 1691, bu 1719 | ||
Damiaten (A) | 52 | Malaga 1704 | L. 1693, bu 1713 | |
Morgenster (A) | 52 | L. 1694, bu 1719 | ||
Hof van Rhenen (A) | 52 | L. 1700, bu 1729 | ||
Curaçao (A) | 52 | L. 1704, bu 1729 | ||
Oosterwijk (A) | 52 | 1704 North sea | L. 1704, bu 1734 | |
Den Brakel (A) | 52 | L. 1709, bu 1735 | ||
Duinrel (A) | 52 | L. 1712, bu 1736 | ||
Ter Meer (A) | 52 | L. 1713, bu 1741 | ||
Schiedam | Boreel 05 | 52 | Gibr. 1705 | L. 1713, bu 1741 |
Wapen van Hoorn (N) | Nieustadt | 52 | Lost Oostende 1702 | |
Zeeland (M) | 46? | 1711 Portsmouth; 1712 at Mahon | ||
Gaasterland | Comm. Thys de Wit | 46 | 1703 Capt. in battle of La Roque | |
Grijpskerk (A) | 40 | L. 1689, bu 1713 | ||
Drakestein (A) | 44 | L. 1692, bu 1717 | ||
Kampen (A) | 44 | L. 1699, bu 1726 | ||
Raadh. Haarlem (A) | 44 | L. 1699, bu 1724 | ||
Diepenheim (A) | 44 | 1708 Dunkirk | L. 1700, bu 1724 | |
Vredenhof (A) | 44 | 1711 Lisbon | L. 1709, bu 1730 | |
Edam (A) | 44 | L. 1711, bu 1739 | ||
Schermer | 43 | 1703 Capt. in battle of La Roque | ||
Anna (A) | 38 | L. 1688, bu 1713 | ||
Landscroon (A) | 34 | Med. 1707 | L. 1689, bu 1713 | |
Freg. Beschutter (A) | 38 | Vigo 1702; Lisbon 1705 | L. 1692, bu 1717 | |
Freg. Grijpende wolf (A) | 38 | Vigo 1702 | L. 1692, bu 1719 | |
Freg. Schoterbos (A) | 38 | Vigo 1702 | L. 1693, bu 1717 | |
Freg. Mars (A) | 38 | L. 1701, bu 1724 | ||
Freg. Schoonoord (A) | 38 | L. 1701, bu 1732 | ||
Freg. Kraai (A) | 38 | L. 1704, bu 1733 | ||
Freg. Rozendaal (M) | Kpt. A. Boreel | 38 | Capt. in battle of La Roque | |
Freg. Rotterdam (M) | Kpt. Samuel Forman | 34 | Capt. in battle of La Roque | |
Nassau (Z) | Maurignault | ? | 1708 Dunkirk, 1712 at Mahon | |
Freg Heemskerk | ? | Vigo 1702 | ||
Freg Gorcum | ? | Vigo 1702 | ||
Freg. Grave | ? | Vigo 1702 |
6.2 The Admiralty of Zeeland
About the Admiralty of Zeeland some particulars are known. Below is what I believe to be a complete overview of the ships of the Zeeland Admiralty during the War of the Spanish Succession. A detailed study of the Admiralty of Zeeland in the first half of the 18th century is online, Tegen de stroom oproeien by Jelle Reynaert.
Zeeland ships during the War of the Spanish Succession | ||||
Ship | Guns | Served in WSS | built | Remarks |
Middelburg | ? | never | 1699 | bu 1753, 180ft |
Zeelandia | 90 | ? | 1684 | sold 1715, 170ft |
Koning William | 90 | ? | 1690 | sold 1718, 170ft |
Eerste Edele | 74 | 1703; 1708 | sold 1728 | |
Walcheren | 70 | 1704; 1705, 1708 | 1695 | sold 1713, 152ft |
Zierikzee | ca 60 | 1702; 1705 | 1693 | sold 1716, 146ft |
Vlissingen | 54 | 1703; 1704; 1705 | sold 1736 | |
Veere | 54 | 1703; 1705; 1706 | ||
Nassau | ? | 1708; 1712 | ||
Goes | 54 | ? | 1690 | sold 1705 136ft |
Cortgene | 44 | ? | sold 1710 | |
Freg. Zeist | 30 | ? | sold 1710 100 ft | |
Freg. Aurora | 28 | ? | sold 1710 100 ft | |
Freg. Rozenburg | ? | ? | sold 1711 | |
Orange Galley | ? | ? |
7 Potential strength during and after the War of the Spanish Succession
One then has to try to work this over to get a view of how many ships could potentially be put to sea. During the War of the Spanish Succession most of the above ships did see some action, some ships were lost and some new ships were built. One could therefore be tempted to think that the potential strength of the Dutch navy did not dramatically decrease. Providing that few ships were lost the potential strength could only diminish as ships gradually became too old to be servicable. In potential strength the mainstay of the Dutch navy were the ships built during the Nine Years War. These reached the end of their life span after about 25-30 years, and so the potential strength of the Dutch navy was still quite high in 1713.
However, right after the war a rigorous cost-cutting programm set in. In stead of replacing a part of these aging ships they were simply broken up. It was even worse than this because even a lot of the newer ships were broken up or sold. This policy kind of assumed that the United Provinces would not soon be engaged in a major war and therefore did not need a large navy in the short term. The real economic interest of the United Provinces however demanded a navy that could enforce the free trade of its citizens whatever the international circumstances. The much smaller navy after the war was a signal to all other powers that they could easily start to take measures to strengthen their own trade by restricting the Dutch trading.
8 Notes
1z) OHC 25 april 1690 for Swaen sailing with the whalers on 21 April 1690 |
1y) AC 6 april 1690 for Van Zeyl appointed on the Reygersbergen |
1z) AC 6 april 1690 for Cuyper appointed on the Castricum |
1a) OHC 4 april 1690 for Lamoureux on the 'Vliegende Mercurius' |
1b) Hollandse Mercurius van het jaar 1689, page 158 has these orders given for the fleet on 27 October 1689 |
2) Geschiedenis van het Nederlansche Zeewezen deel 3 |
3) Direct Source reflects mention of the ship in the Heinsius Archive; also Europische Mercurius for 1703 for the Vigo OOB; |
4) Other sources: De Admiraliteit van Amsterdam in rustige jaren1713-1751, by J.R. Bruijn Scheltema and Holkema 1971, for the Amsterdam ships; Resoluties Holland for Munnikendam and Noorderkwartier getting sold ca 1720. |