Bataviawerf Golden Age Ship Builders

During the Netherlands Golden Age from 1600 to 1800 when the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) controlled the spice trade from Asia, they sailed in spectacular ships adorned with wood carvings to impress the customers, for much the same reasons that salesmen today drive fancy big cars. At Bataviawerf in Lelystad you can watch craftsmen build replicas of these ships. Since the original builders left no building plans--they built so many ships they just knew what to do--the craftsmen today have to study old drawings, written descriptions, and recovered shipwrecks for details.


The first two pictures are of the Amsterdam, harboured near a museum in Amsterdam.Be sure to click on the pictures for a closer look at the woodcarvings.


The following are of the spice ship Batavia in Lelystad.




We've hired on for a day of hard labor.



Our first mate is showing us the toilet paper in case we need any for a break, a rope that drags in the water. Two toilets serve all 300 on board. Only the captain and a select few have more private facilities.

To get talented woodcarvers today, the ship building company gives a block of wood and a picture to prospective employees and asks them to come back with their best version. This picture shows the various results from different applicants based on the same picture. Guess who got hired.


Outside you can watch them cutting, drying, and shaping the wood to create the skin of the ship.




They've already started to mount the carvings. This ship will be the Seven Provinces, a battle ship.


These wooden ships generally lasted only 25 years before they rotted away, usually from worm rot. The profits from two or three spice runs usually paid for the ship. A trip to the East Indies usually took nine months. No wonder they worried about mutiny from sailors who signed up for a 10 year tour of duty, oft to avoid prison terms for various crimes.