Scheepvaartmuseum
Eastindiaman Amsterdam
VOC ships like the Amsterdam sailed to the Far East. The outward journey took around eight months, the return voyage one month less. From 1602 to 1795, 1461 East Indiamen made 4800 voyages. Less than 4 per cent (192) were lost at
sea.
The original Amsterdam sailed up the North Sea in 1749. In a raging storm the rudder snapped. The master decided to beach the brand-new ship on the south coast of England. Thus he hoped to save the people on board, the cargo and the
vessel.
But the East Indiaman soon sank into the mud, never to be freed again. The wreck has provided archaeologists with valuable information about the construction of VOC ships, their cargoes and life on board.
The Amsterdam, a VOC ship from 1990
In 1985, almost 200 years after the demise of the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the keel was laid for a new East Indiaman. The original example was largely copied during construction. But modern standards also created differences: the hull and decks
are made of tropical wood instead of oak, there is standing room between the decks, the spars are glued and stairs replace ladders. More than 400 volunteers worked on this new Amsterdam, which has been berthed at the Maritime Museum since
1991.
The 'Amsterdam': statistics
| Keel length: |
42,5 m |
| Length from stem to stem: |
48,0 m |
| Beam: |
11,5 m |
| Draught: |
5,5 m |
| Height from keel to mast top: |
56,0 m |
| Displacement: |
1100 tons |
| Guns (original): |
42 |
| Guns (replica): |
16 |
HoldOn the outward voyage, half the hold was filled with food and drink for around 240 men for eight months...Cargo on the outward journeyOn their way to Asia, the East Indiamen carried bricks and guns for the various VOC settlements and strongholds. And...Return cargoProducts from all over Asia filled the hold. Tin, pepper and other spices, fabrics, tea and china were stowed in such a...Bread room
The bread room was iron-plated to keep the supply of hardtack and cheese safe from vermin.
MagazineThe magazine provided storage space for kegs of gun powder, musket and cannon
balls and spare parts for the guns on...Main deckThe main deck served as the 'dormitory' for an average two hundred sailors. The entire deck was crammed with sea chests...GunroomIn this safe place, the master gunner stored the small arms, sabres and other weaponry. His mate, the sailmaker and the...Upper deckOn this deck, near the galley, were pens for animals that served as fresh food: pigs, goats and a calf or cow...CapstanWith ropes wound around this large drum, the crew could weigh the anchors, set the sails, and hoist up cargo...Main cabinThe shipmaster, the mates, the bookkeeper, the merchant, the surgeon and the passengers ate in the main cabin at a...Captain's cabinIn this 'office' the shipmaster checked the course on his charts. He also kept the ship's log here and meted out...Forecastle deck and 'waist'When the weather was fine, the sailors enjoyed their leisure time here. Behind the figurehead was the 'head'...Galley - food, drink and scurvyIn this cramped cabin, the cook prepared the food for some 240 men. In the morning, a
nutritious porridge was prepared...QuarterdeckThis part of the ship accommodated the ship's officers and passengers: VOC officials, merchants and clergymen...Surgeon's cabinThis cabin contains the berth of the surgeon and his
medicine chest with ointments, powders, medicinal oils...Poop deckThis, the highest deck of the ship, sometimes contained chicken coops. The fresh eggs, and later the chickens...
