Merchant ship and ferry for the coastal waters and inland lakes and rivers in the Netherlands, Flanders and France and called a HEUDE.
During the 80th year war (1568-1648) between the Seven Provinces and Spain she was regular used as a warship in the fleet of the Prince of Orange.
In the U,K. the type of ship there called HOY took part in the war against the Spanish Armada (1588).
The early Dutch HEUDE was carvel-planked with buff round bows and round stern.
Low castle foreward, large hatch.
One mast which carried a large spritsail, later added a topsail and a lateen mizzen, short bowsprit supported a flagstaff.
She did have a shallow draught.
Leeboards were sometimes used.
Diminsions, length between 10.7 – 23.5m., with a beam from 3.5 – 5.7m., depth 2.4m.
Wikipedia gives more info on the HOY http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoy_(boat)
The painting made by Albert Cuyp (1620-1691) shows us hoys and a East Indiaman off Dordrecht, Netherlands in the 17th century, (I believe I have seen this painting also on a stamp of one of the African countries.)
Netherlands Antilles 2009 220c sg?, scott?
Source: Zeilvaart Lexicon Maritime Woordenboek. Aak to Zumbra, A Dictionary of the World’s Watercraft.