DUTCH ADMIRALTIES (1488-1795)

by Ron van Maanen

In the 15th century the Habsburgs founded an admiralty in the Netherlands with as first admiral Filips van Kleef (1485-1488). The admiralty was officially founded on 8 January 1488. Since 1491 the Lords of Veere were appointed as admiral until 1558. Veere was a small seaport town in the province Zealand. In 1550 the Habsburgs founded an own navy with Veere as naval base including yard facilities including an arsenal. In 1558 the Lord of Veere Maximilian of Burgundy died childless and his successor was not recognised in Holland. In 1559 the treaty with France was made and a year later the admiralty was moved to the town Gent (nowadays Belgium). The warships were sold in 1561.

In 1568 started the revolt of the Netherlands against the Spanish ending in what later was known as the 80-years war. In the 90’s of the 16th century a naval organisation was founded including five admiralties, of which three were suited in the province Holland. Each admiralty were quite independent in for instance their financial management and decisions (taxes were the main revenues) although the States-General made the final decisions concerning the employment of the navy.

Although all admiralties had their own yard facilities partly of the ships were, still in the 18th century, built at private yards.

The largest admiralty was the admiralty of Amsterdam with an own yard.

Second largest was the admiralty of Rotterdam also called of the Maze, with yard facilities in Rotterdam. At Hellevloetsluis was a good berth with a sea lock-chamber, suitable to preserve ships in wintertime. In the 17th century the available facilities were continuously improved suitable for fitting out and repairing ships for this admiralty although there was not a slipway available. In 1696 started a nearly complete rebuilding of the fortifications including deepen and broadening of the wet dock. In the beginning of the 19th century the wet and drydock facilities were expanded.

The admiralty of the Noorderkwartier was in the beginning suited in Hoorn but since 1593 chancing each three months between Hoorn and Enkhuizen. There were yard facilities in Hoorn, Enkhuizen and Medemblik.

In the province Zealand the admiralty was suited in Middelburg. Although in Middelburg in the 17th century the Dutch East India Company founded a own yard and some warships were built in the 15th century and probably first quart of the 17th century in Flushing were the most important yard facilities later included wet and dry docks. In this place most of the warships were built for this admiralty. Nowadays there are still warships built in Flushing by a company in fact a successor of the original naval yard. Veere and Zierikzee became less important in the 17th century although in both places warships were built and equipped/fitted out. The buildings of the arsenal dating from the mid 15th century were in the 17th century still known as the arsenal of the count. In the 18th century in both places the yard facilities still exists.

In the province Friesland the admiralty was since 1596 originally suited in Dokkum without a yard, but in 1645 moved to Harlingen where there was also a naval yard. This was the smallest admiralty of the five admiralties and some times there were no ships built for instance in the period 1682-1693 of no warships fitted out like in 1702-1713.

All five admiralties were replaced by one committee dealing with all navy affairs February 27th, 1795.