Built as a ship of the line on the Admiralty yard at Rotterdam for the Admiralty of the Meuse at Rotterdam. She was built by Master Shipbuilder Salomon Jansz van der Temple.
December 1664, keel laid down.
Launched under the name "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN". She was the fourth ship with this name in the Dutch Navy.
Dim. 46.14 x 12.14 x 4.74m.
Armament 12 - 36 pdrs., 16 - 24 pdrs., 14 - 18 pdrs., 12 - 12 pdrs., 26 - 6 pdrs..
Could carry 18 sails, sail area 1800 m².
Crew 420
August 1665, completed.
October 1665 under temporary command of Vice-Admiral Aert van Nes she joined the Dutch Fleet, which was under overall command of Admiral Michiel Adriaensz.
de Ruyter.
Took part in the blockade of the Thames. 3 Nov. 1665, returned at Hellevoetsluis.
10 April 1666 Admiral
de Ruyter arrived on board a used her as his flagship.
She was present during the Second Dutch War 1665-1667 in the Four Day's Battle 11- 14 June (1 - 4 June). One of the hardest ever fought by the Royal Navy.
60 English Ships under command of George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, against 90 Dutch ships under command of
de Ruyter.
The "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN" lost in the battle her ensign mast and main topmast.
During the Battle of North Foreland 4 - 5 August (25 - 26 June) again used as flagship by Admiral
de Ruyter (most probably the stamp of Gambia issued in 2001 D15, one of the ships depict is the "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN".)
The result of this battle were not so lucky for the Dutch and the fleet withdrawn to the Dutch coast.
The Ruyter got ill after a piece of fuse got stuck in his throat, he left the vessel, and command was taken over by Aert van Ness. Around 14 October was she back in the River Maas.
Sailed on 9 May 1667 from Holland as flagship of
de Ruyter, first as escort with a convoy around the North of England.
Left on 14 June with a fleet of about 60 ships for the "Raid on the Medway". The fleet anchored on 17 June (7 June) in the mouth of the Thames near the Middleground Bank.
Early October was the "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN" back at Hellevoetsluis.
Between end 1667 and 1671 out of service.
1671 Used for coast protection and patrol duty on the Dutch coast.
1672 During the Third Anglo-Dutch War she sailed on 29 April, from Holland with on board Cornelis
de Witt.
Took part in the Battle of Solebay on 7 June (26 May) when
de Ruyter surprised the English Fleet.
http://www.tosd.demon.co.uk/battle.htm
11 May 1673 sailed out.
Took part in the first battle of Schoonevelt on 7 June (28 May).
Took part also in the second battle of Schoonevelt on 14 June (04 June). The Dutch fleet repulsed a planned attack of the British on an invasion of the
Zeven Provincién (The Netherlands)
Prince Willem visited the vessel at Scheveningen after the battle.
Took part in the battle of Texel, on 21 August (11 August), the last action in the Anglo-Dutch Wars, between the Dutch and the combined British and French fleet. February 1674 peace was made between Holland and England (Treaty of Westminster on 19 Feb. 1674).
After the war the plan was to re-capture the island Martinique in the West Indies back from the French, and a Dutch Fleet under command of
de Ruyter on board the "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN" sailed from Holland. During the passage the fleet made calls at Santa Cruz
de Tenerife, Dominica and Nevis, and on 16 July 1674 the fleet attacked Martinique. The French repelled the attack and the Dutch fleet, with heavy losses withdrawn from the island.
October 1674, was the "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN" back at Holland.
The next year Michiel
de Ruyter shifted his flag to the "EENDRACHT" because the "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN" did not have lining, and needed badly maintenance and repair, and she was not fit for the planned expedition to the Mediterranean
During this voyage
de Ruyter was killed in 1676.
1678 Jan van Brakel, the later Rear Admiral took over command of the "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN".
Sailed the same year in February for an expedition to Spain. During this voyage attacked an Algerian privateer. Sailed home via Cadiz, Barcelona, Alicante and Malaga back to Cadiz before returning home, where she arrived on the road of Texel the end of September.
1691 Rear-Admiral Jan Snellen took command.
After the Dutch Prince Willem III became King of England the two fleets were combined under command of the English Admiral Russell, the Dutch squadron was under command of Philips van Almonde.
In the vicinity of Quessant a few French vessels were captured.
24 August 1691 Jan Snellen died on board, command of the "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN" was taken over by Philip van
de Goes.
During repairs at sea, in a heavy squall the foremast with bowsprit were blown overboard.
The "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN" returned home, command was taken over by Capt. Evert
de Liefde (or Lieffde), sailed on 7 May 1692 for England. The Dutch squadron joined the British fleet at Ray Bay. The British fleet was under command of Russel.
28 May (19 May), the encounter with the French Fleet under command of Count Cotentin
de Tourville off Cape Barfleur. Count Tourville's fleet was scattered by the much stronger Anglo-Dutch fleet.
The second battle took place 02/03 June (23/24 May) Battle of La Hogue, when Sir George Rooke destroyed twelve French ships of the line.
During this battle the "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN" got heavy damage, and was leaking, after temporarily repair sailed to Portsmouth for repair, got there new rigging, masts and yard's, stayed there until 21 June.
23 June heaved in her anchor and joined again the fleet in the English Channel until 07 October when she received orders to return home.
It was a long passage due to headwinds but at least she arrived at Hellevoetsluis.
On the first of November the "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN" made her last voyage from Hellevoetsluis to Rotterdam, where she was laid up.
1694 Sold to a shipyard for breaking up.
The date between brackets is the date under which the battles are know in England.
A replica of the "
ZEVEN PROVINCIÉN" is under construction in the Netherlands.
Source:
http://www.bataviawerf.nl/zeprov.htm
History of the Royal Navy. Geschiedenis van Nederland ter Zee. A Dictionary of British Ships and Seamen.
Two stamps of the
ZEVEN PROVINCIEN are designed after a drawing of van der Velde. She is the ship on the right in the foreground.
Mozambique 2018 300.00MT sgMS?, scott? (the saling vessels in the margin are not identified.)
