List of Dutch naval heroes
Encyclopedia
This is a TOP-40 List of Dutch naval heroes from the 17th century.
During the 17th century the strength of the Dutch Navy made the (Dutch) United Provinces
a major maritime power. Many battles were fought with the Spanish, Portuguese, British, Swedish and French, and these naval battles generated a large number of naval heroes, especially as the presence of no less than five Dutch admiralties ensured that many flag officers took part. Hero worship was exuberant in the trade-dependent Dutch Republic, and the victors were honoured in all possible ways. At the time it was possible for a man of humble origins to attain high command. The populace readily identified with popular admirals, in a way not unlike not unlike the acclaim for sportstar
s of our day.
Marine-historian Prud'homme van Reine made a "top-40" of Dutch sea heroes of that period. He based the rankings on the number of portraits published per hero. In case of an ex aequo, the size of the sepulcher was decisive.
During the 17th century the strength of the Dutch Navy made the (Dutch) United Provinces
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...
a major maritime power. Many battles were fought with the Spanish, Portuguese, British, Swedish and French, and these naval battles generated a large number of naval heroes, especially as the presence of no less than five Dutch admiralties ensured that many flag officers took part. Hero worship was exuberant in the trade-dependent Dutch Republic, and the victors were honoured in all possible ways. At the time it was possible for a man of humble origins to attain high command. The populace readily identified with popular admirals, in a way not unlike not unlike the acclaim for sportstar
Sportstar
Sportstar is a weekly sports magazine published in India by the publishers of The Hindu. Its headquarters is in Chennai. The magazine covers sports in India. It also has an extended and lengthy coverage of cricket, the unofficial national sport of India...
s of our day.
Marine-historian Prud'homme van Reine made a "top-40" of Dutch sea heroes of that period. He based the rankings on the number of portraits published per hero. In case of an ex aequo, the size of the sepulcher was decisive.
TOP 40 (and number of portraits)
- Michiel Adriaanszoon de Ruyter - 45
- Maarten Harpertszoon TrompMaarten TrompMaarten Harpertszoon Tromp was an officer and later admiral in the Dutch navy. His first name is also spelled as Maerten.-Early life:...
- 44 - Cornelis TrompCornelis 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...
- 31 - Piet Pieterszoon HeinPiet Pieterszoon HeinPieter Pietersen Heyn was a Dutch naval officer and folk hero during the Eighty Years' War between the United Provinces and Spain.-Early life:...
- 21 - Witte Corneliszoon de With - 21
- Jacob van Wassenaer ObdamJacob 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...
- 18 - Jan van Galen - 17
- Johan Evertsen de OudeJohan EvertsenJohan Evertsen was a Dutch admiral from the 17th century.- Biography :Johan was the eldest surviving son of Johan Evertsen, known as Captain Jan, who died in 1617 fighting near La Rochelle against a French corsair...
- 16 - Jacob van HeemskerkJacob van HeemskerkJacob van Heemskerk was a Dutch explorer and later admiral commanding the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Gibraltar.-Arctic exploration:...
- 10 - Pieter FlorissePieter FloriszoonPieter Floriszoon was a Dutch Vice Admiral from the 17th century....
- 9 - Aert Jansse van NesAert Jansse van NesAert Jansse van Nes was a 17th century Dutch naval commander, notable for commanding the second squadron in the raid on the Medway in 1667....
- 9 - Adriaen BanckertAdriaen BanckertAdriaen van Trappen Banckert was a Dutch admiral. In English literature he is sometimes known as Banckers. His first name is often rendered in the modern spelling Adriaan. Van Trappen was the original family name, but the family was also and better known under the name of Banckert...
- 8 - Cornelis Evertsen de Oude - 7
- Willem Joseph van GhentWillem 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:...
- 6 - Egbert Bartholomeusz KortenaerEgbert 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...
- 6 - Abraham van der HulstAbraham van der HulstAbraham van der Hulst was a Dutch admiral in the 17th century.Van der Hulst was appointed extraordinary captain in 1650...
- 6 - Hendrick LonckHendrick LonckAdm. Hendrick Corneliszoon Lonck , a Dutch naval hero, was the first Dutch sea captain to reach the New World.-Early years:...
- 6 - Tjerk Hiddes de VriesTjerk Hiddes de VriesTjerk Hiddes de Vries was a naval hero and Dutch admiral from the seventeenth century. The French, who could not pronounce his name, called him Kiërkides...
- 5 - Isaac SweersIsaac SweersIsaac Sweers was a 17th century Dutch admiral.HNLMS Isaac Sweers was Gerard Callenburgh class destroyer of the Royal Netherlands Navy, named after the admiral....
- 4 - Gerard CallenburghGerard 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...
- 4 - Gilles Schey - 4
- Auke StellingwerfAuke StellingwerfAuke Andriesz Stellingwerf was a Dutch admiral who served the Frisian admiralty and died while commanding a squadron in the battle of Lowestoft....
- 4 - Jan MeppelJan MeppelJan Corneliszoon Meppel was a Dutch naval commander who took the place of Pieter Floriszoon after his death. He fought in the Four Days' Battle, the St. James's Day Battle, and the Raid on the Medway....
- 4 - Cornelis Jansz de Haen - 3
- Cornelis Evertsen de Jongste - 3
- David VlughDavid VlughDavid Vlugh was a 17th century Dutch schout-bij-nacht....
- 3 - Joost van Trappen Banckert - 3
- Philips van Dorp - 3
- Cornelis Evertsen de Jonge - 2
- Geleyn Evertsen - 2
- Joos de MoorJoos de MoorJoos de Moor was a Dutch Vice Admiral from the 16th century. In 1603 in the Battle of Sluis he defeateda Spanish fleet under Admiral Federico Spinola....
- 2 - Philips van AlmondePhilips 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...
- 1 - Willem van der ZaanWillem van der ZaanWillem van der Zaan was a Dutch Admiral. His name is often given in the 17th century spelling Zaen.Willem was born in Amsterdam. He joined the Dutch navy at a young age and had risen to the rank of captain by 1652...
- 1 - Jan van BrakelJan 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...
- 1 - Johan de Liefde - 1
- Willem Bastiaensz Schepers - 1
- Volckert SchramVolckert SchramVolckert Adriaanszoon Schram was a 17th century Dutch admiral. His surname was also spelled Volkert or Volkhard....
- 1 - Engel de RuyterEngel de RuyterEngel Michielszoon de Ruyter was a Dutch vice-admiral.-Life:He was the son of lieutenant admiral Michiel de Ruyter and his second wife Cornelia Engels. He began his naval service on board his father's ship on his expeditions in 1664 and 1665...
- 1 - Jan Jansse van NesJan Jansse van NesJan 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....
- 1 - Govert 't Hoen - 1