Admiralty of Rotterdam
Encyclopedia
The Admiralty of Rotterdam, also called the Admiralty of de Maze
, was one of the five Admiralties in the Dutch Republic
.
It was set up in 1574 during the Dutch Revolt
, when (after the Capture of Brielle
) William I of Orange's supporters decided to pool their naval resources at Rotterdam
. After a number of reorganisations designed with fostering cooperation between the Admiralties, the structure of the five Admiralties was determined and defined via a 1597 decision of the States-General of the Netherlands
. The Admiralty had branches for equipping warships, protecting overseas trade and traffic on the sea and rivers, collecting taxes, and jurisdiction over loot and price setting. This situation remained in place until the admiralties were disestablished in 1795.
This, the oldest of the admiralties, was based in the Prinsenhof (Rotterdam), the former Saint Agnathaklooster, at Botersloot. In the former monastery's brewery was built an artilleriehuis, and also within the complex an Admiralty prison was built. In 1644 the Prinsenhof was demolished for the construction of Nieuwemarkt, with the Admiralty moving to the north-west corner of Haringvliet. The artilleriehuis was, however, spared due to its non-central position, on the Prinsenhofterrein by the end of the Huibrug, but was demolished and rebuilt in 1759, probably using stone from the demolished late 16th century frontage of the Admiralty building. One of these stones shows the Admiralty's arms, with the crossed anchor
s and an abbreviation of its motto Pugno Pro Patria ("I fight for the fatherland
").
The Admiralty's new 1644 building, the Admiraliteitshof (with its name recalling that of the Prinsenhof), was an imposing classical building, with a facade showing the coat of arms, and a square plan centred on a courtyard. It was demolished in 1884 (the remains of a gate with the coat of arms can be seen in the collection of the Rijksmuseum
in Amsterdam
.
Since the end of the sixteenth century the Admiralty had also owned the 's-Landswerf, an arsenal and warehouse at the northeastern corner of the Nieuwehaven, which was demolished and rebuilt on the same site in 1660, then extended in 1662 with a second arsenal accessed by a very broad entrance opposite the east gate. In the second half of the seventeenth century the Nieuwehaven was extended to the Buizengat, leading the 's-Landswerf to be moved to the Buizengat's south bank in or after 1689. In 1701, a part of the complex on Groenendaal was destroyed by fire. The rebuilding of the affected wing was commemorated with a foundation stone laid by Diderik Hogendorp. In the 18th century the second arsenal was closed and modernised by the architect Jan Giudici. G. D. Wijckerheld Bisdom laid its first stone on 8 May 1783.
Through all these expansions at a large rectangular building gradually arose. In 1823, the second arsenal was re-organized for the corps of mariners. In 1846, the corps disappeared and in 1868 returned. In 1849 the navy yard (Marinewerf), as the complex was called after the Admiralties were dissolved in 1795, closed. This last building was re-organized in 1855 as a Rijksentrepot.
Near to the many sites relating to the Admiralty may be seen a lijnbaan (touwslagersstraat, or rope-making factory) with accompanying buildings at the Lagendijk just outside the Oostpoort. These were set up in 1697 and were 265 metres long and 10 metres wide, and in service until 1847.
, the last big battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War
, the Admiralty of Rotterdam provided the following ships and captains:
Ships of the line:
De Zeven Provinciën 80 (vlaggeschip der vloot, luitenant-admiraal-generaal Michiel de Ruyter
, vlaggekapiteins Gerard Callenburgh
en Pieter de Liefde)
Delft 62 (Philips van Almonde
)
Ridderschap 64 (Eland du Bois)
Voorzichtigheid 84 (Jan van Brakel
)
Gelderland 63 (waarnemend schout-bij-nacht Cornelis de Liefde
, dodelijk gewond)
Vrijheid 80 (viceadmiraal Jan Evertszoon de Liefde, gesneuveld)
Eendracht 72 (luitenant-admiraal Aert Jansse van Nes
)
Maagd van Dordrecht 68 (viceadmiraal Jan Jansse van Nes
)
Dordrecht 44 (Frans van Nijdek)
Zeelandia 42 (Simon van Panhuis)
Schieland 58 (Adriaan Poort)
Wassenaer 59 (Barend Rees)
Frigates:
Schiedam 20 (Cornelis van der Hoevensoon)
Utrecht 34 (Jan Snellensoon)
Rotterdam 30 (Jacob Pieterszoon Swart)
Harderwijk 24 (MozesWichmansoon)
Adviesjachten:
Hoop 6 (Isaac Anteuniszoon van Anten)
Rotterdam 6 (Wijnand van Meurs)
Branders:
Sint Pieter (Gerrit Halfkaag)
Jisper Kerk 4 (Lens Harmenszoon)
Blackmoor 4 (Abraham van Koperen)
Maria 4 (Dirk de Munnik)
Eenhoorn (Willem de Rave)
Louise 4 (Jan Daniëlszoon van Rijn)
Meuse River
The Maas or Meuse is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea...
, was one of the five Admiralties in the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
.
History
Dutch Revolt
The Dutch Revolt or the Revolt of the Netherlands This article adopts 1568 as the starting date of the war, as this was the year of the first battles between armies. However, since there is a long period of Protestant vs...
, when (after the Capture of Brielle
Capture of Brielle
The Capture of Brielle by the Sea Beggars, or Watergeuzen, on 1 April 1572 marked a turning point in the uprising of the Low Countries against Spain in the Eighty Years' War. Militarily the success was minor, as Brielle was not being defended at the time...
) William I of Orange's supporters decided to pool their naval resources at Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. After a number of reorganisations designed with fostering cooperation between the Admiralties, the structure of the five Admiralties was determined and defined via a 1597 decision of the States-General of the Netherlands
States-General of the Netherlands
The States-General of the Netherlands is the bicameral legislature of the Netherlands, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The parliament meets in at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The archaic Dutch word "staten" originally related to the feudal classes in which medieval...
. The Admiralty had branches for equipping warships, protecting overseas trade and traffic on the sea and rivers, collecting taxes, and jurisdiction over loot and price setting. This situation remained in place until the admiralties were disestablished in 1795.
This, the oldest of the admiralties, was based in the Prinsenhof (Rotterdam), the former Saint Agnathaklooster, at Botersloot. In the former monastery's brewery was built an artilleriehuis, and also within the complex an Admiralty prison was built. In 1644 the Prinsenhof was demolished for the construction of Nieuwemarkt, with the Admiralty moving to the north-west corner of Haringvliet. The artilleriehuis was, however, spared due to its non-central position, on the Prinsenhofterrein by the end of the Huibrug, but was demolished and rebuilt in 1759, probably using stone from the demolished late 16th century frontage of the Admiralty building. One of these stones shows the Admiralty's arms, with the crossed anchor
Anchor
An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, that is used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the vessel from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ancora, which itself comes from the Greek ἄγκυρα .Anchors can either be temporary or permanent...
s and an abbreviation of its motto Pugno Pro Patria ("I fight for the fatherland
Fatherland
Fatherland is the nation of one's "fathers", "forefathers" or "patriarchs". It can be viewed as a nationalist concept, insofar as it relates to nations...
").
The Admiralty's new 1644 building, the Admiraliteitshof (with its name recalling that of the Prinsenhof), was an imposing classical building, with a facade showing the coat of arms, and a square plan centred on a courtyard. It was demolished in 1884 (the remains of a gate with the coat of arms can be seen in the collection of the Rijksmuseum
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam or simply Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum in Amsterdam, located on the Museumplein. The museum is dedicated to arts, crafts, and history. It has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and a substantial collection of Asian art...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
Through all these expansions at a large rectangular building gradually arose. In 1823, the second arsenal was re-organized for the corps of mariners. In 1846, the corps disappeared and in 1868 returned. In 1849 the navy yard (Marinewerf), as the complex was called after the Admiralties were dissolved in 1795, closed. This last building was re-organized in 1855 as a Rijksentrepot.
Near to the many sites relating to the Admiralty may be seen a lijnbaan (touwslagersstraat, or rope-making factory) with accompanying buildings at the Lagendijk just outside the Oostpoort. These were set up in 1697 and were 265 metres long and 10 metres wide, and in service until 1847.
Fleet-guardians (vlootvoogden)
Well-known fleet-guardians (vlootvoogden) of the Rotterdam Admiralty include:- Almonde, Philps vanPhilips van AlmondePhilips van Almonde was a Dutch Lieutenant Admiral, who served in his nation’s maritime conflicts of the 17th and early 18th centuries.Philips was the son of Pieter Jansz van Almonde, a wealthy burgher...
: luitenant-commandeur (1665); schout-bij-nacht (1673) - Brakel, Jan vanJan van BrakelJan van Brakel was a Dutch Rear Admiral who distinguished himself on many occasions during the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch wars and the Nine Years War. Almost nothing is known about Van Brakels early career; we know neither his year of birth nor his backgrounds...
: viceadmiraal (1688) - Callenburgh, GerardGerard CallenburghGerard Callenburgh was a Dutch admiral.Gerard was born in Willemstad, the son of a wood-trader, but chose to enter the Dutch navy in 1661 as a cadet, serving the Admiralty of the Maze. He was made second lieutenant in May 1666 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. On 10 February 1671 he was promoted...
: viceadmiraal (1692) - Dorp, Phillips van: raadslid (1642)
- Ghent, Willem JosephWillem Joseph van GhentWillem Joseph baron van Ghent tot Drakenburgh was a 17th-century Dutch admiral. His surname is also sometimes rendered Gendt or Gent.-Early career:...
: - Kortenaer, Egbert BartholomeuszEgbert Bartholomeusz KortenaerEgbert Bartholomeuszoon Kortenaer or Egbert Meussen Cortenaer was an admiral of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. His second name is also given as Bartolomeuszoon or Meeuwiszoon. All of these are variations on the patronym "Son of Bartholomew".Kortenaer was born in 1604 in Groningen of...
: luitenant-commandeur (1653); viceadmiraal (1659); luitenant-admiraal (1665) - Liefde, Cornelis deCornelis de LiefdeCornelis Evertsen de Liefde was a 17th century Dutch naval commander, a role also fulfilled by his younger brother Johan de Liefde-Life:...
: - Liefde, Johan de: viceadmiraal (1666)
- Liefde, Pieter de:
- Kerseboom, Laurens:
- Neck, Jacob van: luitenant-admiraal (?)
- Nes, Aert Jansz van: schout-bij-nacht (1662); viceadmiraal (1665); luitenant-admiraal (1666)
- Nes, Cornelis Jansz van:
- Nes de jongere, Jan Jacobsz van:
- Nes de oudere, Jan Jacobsz van:
- Nes, Jan Jansz van: schout-bij-nacht (1666); viceadmiraal (1673)
- Schepers, Willem Bastiaensz: luitenant-admiraal (1692)
- Tromp, CorneliszCornelis TrompSir Cornelis Maartenszoon Tromp, 1st Baronet was a Dutch naval officer. He was the son of Lieutenant Admiral Maarten Tromp. He became Lieutenant Admiral General in the Dutch Navy and briefly Admiral General in the Danish Navy...
: luitenant-admiraal (1665) - Tromp, Maarten HarpertszMaarten TrompMaarten Harpertszoon Tromp was an officer and later admiral in the Dutch navy. His first name is also spelled as Maerten.-Early life:...
: luitenant-admiraal (1637) - Wassenaer-Obdam, Jacob vanJacob van Wassenaer ObdamJacob, Banner Lord of Wassenaer, Lord Obdam, Hensbroek, Spanbroek, Opmeer, Zuidwijk and Kernhem was a Dutch Lieutenant-Admiral, and supreme commander of the confederate Dutch navy. The name Obdam was then also spelled as Opdam...
: luitenant-admiraal )1653) - Wassenaer Duivenvoorde, Jacob van: luitenant-admiraal (?)
- With, Witte de: vlaggen-kapitein (1622); viceadmiraal (1626)
Battle of Texel
In the 1673 Battle of TexelBattle of Texel
The naval Battle of Texel or Battle of Kijkduin took place on 21 August 1673 between the Dutch and the combined English and French fleets and was the last major battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War, which was itself part of the Franco-Dutch War , during which Louis XIV of France invaded the...
, the last big battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War
Third Anglo-Dutch War
The Third Anglo–Dutch War or Third Dutch War was a military conflict between England and the Dutch Republic lasting from 1672 to 1674. It was part of the larger Franco-Dutch War...
, the Admiralty of Rotterdam provided the following ships and captains:
Ships of the line:
De Zeven Provinciën 80 (vlaggeschip der vloot, luitenant-admiraal-generaal Michiel de Ruyter
Michiel de Ruyter
Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter is the most famous and one of the most skilled admirals in Dutch history. De Ruyter is most famous for his role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th century. He fought the English and French and scored several major victories against them, the best known probably...
, vlaggekapiteins Gerard Callenburgh
Gerard Callenburgh
Gerard Callenburgh was a Dutch admiral.Gerard was born in Willemstad, the son of a wood-trader, but chose to enter the Dutch navy in 1661 as a cadet, serving the Admiralty of the Maze. He was made second lieutenant in May 1666 during the Second Anglo-Dutch War. On 10 February 1671 he was promoted...
en Pieter de Liefde)
Delft 62 (Philips van Almonde
Philips van Almonde
Philips van Almonde was a Dutch Lieutenant Admiral, who served in his nation’s maritime conflicts of the 17th and early 18th centuries.Philips was the son of Pieter Jansz van Almonde, a wealthy burgher...
)
Ridderschap 64 (Eland du Bois)
Voorzichtigheid 84 (Jan van Brakel
Jan van Brakel
Jan van Brakel was a Dutch Rear Admiral who distinguished himself on many occasions during the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch wars and the Nine Years War. Almost nothing is known about Van Brakels early career; we know neither his year of birth nor his backgrounds...
)
Gelderland 63 (waarnemend schout-bij-nacht Cornelis de Liefde
Cornelis de Liefde
Cornelis Evertsen de Liefde was a 17th century Dutch naval commander, a role also fulfilled by his younger brother Johan de Liefde-Life:...
, dodelijk gewond)
Vrijheid 80 (viceadmiraal Jan Evertszoon de Liefde, gesneuveld)
Eendracht 72 (luitenant-admiraal Aert Jansse van Nes
Aert Jansse van Nes
Aert Jansse van Nes was a 17th century Dutch naval commander, notable for commanding the second squadron in the raid on the Medway in 1667....
)
Maagd van Dordrecht 68 (viceadmiraal Jan Jansse van Nes
Jan Jansse van Nes
Jan Jansse van Nes was a 17th century Dutch admiral and the brother of the naval commander Aert Jansse van Nes. They both took part in the 1667 Dutch raid on the Medway....
)
Dordrecht 44 (Frans van Nijdek)
Zeelandia 42 (Simon van Panhuis)
Schieland 58 (Adriaan Poort)
Wassenaer 59 (Barend Rees)
Frigates:
Schiedam 20 (Cornelis van der Hoevensoon)
Utrecht 34 (Jan Snellensoon)
Rotterdam 30 (Jacob Pieterszoon Swart)
Harderwijk 24 (MozesWichmansoon)
Adviesjachten:
Hoop 6 (Isaac Anteuniszoon van Anten)
Rotterdam 6 (Wijnand van Meurs)
Branders:
Sint Pieter (Gerrit Halfkaag)
Jisper Kerk 4 (Lens Harmenszoon)
Blackmoor 4 (Abraham van Koperen)
Maria 4 (Dirk de Munnik)
Eenhoorn (Willem de Rave)
Louise 4 (Jan Daniëlszoon van Rijn)