Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the name used for thirteen Dutch East India Company vessels and predecessor-company ships that operated between the late sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Amsterdam is a collective name applied to thirteen ships associated with the Dutch East India Company, commonly known by its Dutch abbreviation VOC, and with the company's predecessor trading ventures. The vessels were not a single continuous ship class or commercial brand in the modern sense. They were separately built merchant and naval vessels that carried the same name at different dates, reflecting the VOC's practice of reusing prominent Dutch place names for ships engaged in Asian trade, exploration, military operations, and logistical service. The earliest Amsterdam in this group was built for the First Dutch Expedition to Nusantara and sailed in 1594 with the brothers Cornelis and Frederik de Houtman. It was later set adrift and burned in January 1597. A second Amsterdam participated in the Second Dutch Expedition to Nusantara in 1598, while another vessel named Amsterdam served in a subsequent expedition led by Jacob Corneliszoon van Neck. The Amsterdam of 1603 joined the VOC's first fleet to depart for the East Indies under Steven van der Hagen and later participated in fighting against Portuguese forces near Mozambique during the Dutch-Portuguese War. Other ships bearing the name experienced sharply different careers. The Amsterdam of 1605 was captured by the Spanish at Manila in 1610. Amsterdam (1618), commanded by Frederik de Houtman and Jacob Dedel, took part in voyages connected with the early Dutch observation and charting of the western Australian coast. Amsterdam (1623), also known as Wapen van Amsterdam, made return voyages between the Netherlands and Batavia. Amsterdam (1632) contributed to the charting of the Western Australian coast during a 1635 voyage. The later vessels included a sloop lost near Bombay in 1702, a 1716 ship that completed five East Indies voyages, and Amsterdam (1740), which was lost with all hands near the Shetland Islands in 1742 while returning from Batavia. The best-known member of the group is Amsterdam (1748), a Dutch East Indiaman intended for the route from Texel to Batavia. After repeated attempts to begin its maiden voyage, it was wrecked in a storm in the English Channel on 26 January 1749. Remains of that wreck can be observed off Bulverhythe beach near Hastings at exceptionally low tides. The name was also carried by Amsterdam (1772), a large vessel that made three East Indies voyages and was later sent from the Cape to Mauritius in 1781 to assist French allies during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. Taken together, the Amsterdam ships illustrate the changing functions of VOC shipping: early reconnaissance and commercial expansion, regular intercontinental transport, armed conflict, coastal discovery, and imperial logistics. The subject is therefore a historical group of vessels rather than a contemporary consumer brand, company, or food product.
History
The name Amsterdam was used for thirteen vessels belonging to the Dutch East India Company or to trading organizations that preceded its formal establishment. These ships formed part of the Dutch maritime expansion into Asia from the late sixteenth century through the eighteenth century. Their missions combined commerce, exploration, military action, mapping, and the movement of personnel and supplies between the Netherlands, the Cape, Batavia, India, and other ports. Amsterdam (1594) was one of four ships in the First Dutch Expedition to Nusantara. It carried Cornelis and Frederik de Houtman during the expedition, an important early Dutch attempt to establish direct access to Asian trade. The vessel was eventually abandoned and burned on 11 January 1597. Amsterdam (1598), a larger ship, sailed in the Second Dutch Expedition to Nusantara, while Amsterdam (1600) belonged to another expedition led by Jacob Corneliszoon van Neck. Amsterdam (1603) was a 350-last vessel in the first VOC fleet dispatched to the East Indies under Steven van der Hagen on 18 December 1603. Its later service included participation in a Dutch fleet operation against Portuguese positions near Mozambique between June and August 1608. The ship remained in VOC service beyond 1606 and possibly beyond 1616. Amsterdam (1605), another vessel of similar size, had a shorter career after being captured by Spanish forces at Manila on 25 April 1610. The Amsterdam of 1618 is associated with Dutch exploration of the western Australian coast. Sailing under Frederik de Houtman and Jacob Dedel, it sighted the coast with Dordrecht in July 1619. The voyage also involved observations of Rottnest Island and the Houtman Abrolhos during the northward passage toward Bantam. Amsterdam (1623), also called Wapen van Amsterdam, travelled in a fleet of ten ships to Batavia in 1623 and returned in a smaller fleet in 1626. Amsterdam (1632) later contributed to the charting of the western Australian coastline around the latitude of Shark Bay. The later Amsterdam ships reflect the hazards and broader geographic reach of VOC operations. Amsterdam (1691), a sloop, was lost near Bombay on 22 November 1702 while bound for Basra. Amsterdam (1716) completed five East Indies voyages and returned from its final voyage in July 1731. Amsterdam (1740) was lost with all hands near the Shetland Islands in 1742 during its return from Batavia. Amsterdam (1748) was a 400-last Dutch East Indiaman, or spiegelretourschip, designed for the established Netherlands-to-Asia trade route. It made three attempts to begin its maiden voyage from Texel to Batavia. A storm in the English Channel wrecked the ship on 26 January 1749. Its remains lie off the coast near Bulverhythe beach at Hastings and may be visible at very low tide, making it an important surviving site for the study of eighteenth-century Dutch shipping and maritime archaeology. The final vessel in the group, Amsterdam (1772), was a 575-last ship that completed three East Indies voyages. During its third return voyage, it was sent from the Cape to Mauritius on 17 May 1781 to support French allies during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. It was laid up at the Cape in early 1784. Across the thirteen vessels, the repeated name documents the long operational history of VOC shipping and the risks of early modern intercontinental navigation.
- 1784
Amsterdam (1772) laid up
[1]The last ship in the group was laid up at the Cape in early 1784.
- 1781
Support mission to Mauritius
[1]During its third return voyage, Amsterdam (1772) was sent from the Cape to Mauritius to assist French allies.
- 1772
Final Amsterdam vessel launched
[1]Amsterdam (1772), a 575-last vessel, began a career that included three East Indies voyages.
- 1749
Amsterdam (1748) wrecked
[1]The vessel was wrecked in a storm in the English Channel on 26 January during its attempted maiden voyage to Batavia.
- 1748
Amsterdam (1748) built
[1]A 400-last Dutch East Indiaman named Amsterdam was completed for the VOC's Asian trade route.
- 1742
Amsterdam (1740) lost near Shetland
[1]Amsterdam (1740) was lost with all hands while returning from Batavia.
- 1702
Amsterdam (1691) lost near Bombay
[1]The Amsterdam sloop of 1691 perished near Bombay while sailing toward Basra.
- 1635
Western Australian charting
[1]Amsterdam (1632) was associated with charting the western Australian coast around Shark Bay.
- 1623
Wapen van Amsterdam sails to Batavia
[1]Amsterdam (1623), also known as Wapen van Amsterdam, departed for Batavia in a fleet of ten ships.
- 1619
Western Australian coast sighted
[1]Amsterdam (1618) and Dordrecht observed the western Australian coast during a voyage commanded by Frederik de Houtman and Jacob Dedel.
Products and positioning
Galleon · 1594
Amsterdam (1594)
A 130-last vessel and one of four ships in the First Dutch Expedition to Nusantara. It carried Cornelis and Frederik de Houtman and was ultimately set adrift and burned in January 1597.
Merchant ship · 1598
Amsterdam (1598)
A 250-last ship that participated in the Second Dutch Expedition to Nusantara, the first such expedition led by Jacob Corneliszoon van Neck.
Merchant ship · 1600
Amsterdam (1600)
A 450-last vessel used in a subsequent expedition to Asia under Jacob Corneliszoon van Neck.
VOC merchant ship · 1603
Amsterdam (1603)
A 350-last vessel in the first VOC fleet dispatched to the East Indies under Steven van der Hagen. It later served in Dutch operations against Portuguese forces near Mozambique.
VOC merchant ship · 1605
Amsterdam (1605)
A 350-last vessel captured by Spanish forces at Manila on 25 April 1610.
Exploration and merchant ship · 1618
Amsterdam (1618)
A vessel associated with the Dutch sighting and recording of parts of the western Australian coast in company with Dordrecht.
VOC merchant ship · 1623
Amsterdam (1623)
A 400-last ship also known as Wapen van Amsterdam. It sailed to Batavia in 1623 and returned to the Netherlands in 1626.
Exploration and charting ship · 1632
Amsterdam (1632)
A vessel linked to Dutch charting of the western Australian coast around the latitude of Shark Bay.
Sloop · 1691
Amsterdam (1691)
A sloop that was lost near Bombay in 1702 while sailing toward Basra.
VOC merchant ship · 1716
Amsterdam (1716)
A ship that completed five voyages to the East Indies and returned from its last voyage in July 1731.
VOC merchant ship · 1740
Amsterdam (1740)
A 425-last vessel lost with all hands near the Shetland Islands in 1742 while returning from Batavia.
Dutch East Indiaman · 1748
Amsterdam (1748)
A 400-last spiegelretourschip intended for the Texel-to-Batavia route. It was wrecked in the English Channel on 26 January 1749 during its attempted maiden voyage, and its remains lie off Bulverhythe beach near Hastings.
VOC merchant ship · 1772
Amsterdam (1772)
A 575-last vessel that completed three East Indies voyages and was later used in a support mission to Mauritius during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War.
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