Rooswijk
Encyclopedia
The Rooswijk was a ship belonging to the VOC (Dutch East India Company
) that, according to recent, non-contemporary, news reports, sank in 1740.
, about 8 km from the British mainland. There were no known survivors. At the time, it was captained by Daniel Ronzieres.
In December 2005, it was made public that between May and September of that year a team led by Rex Cowan had recovered some of the ship and its contents. This was done in secrecy to avoid attracting looters. Artifacts recovered included approximately one thousand bars of silver, gold coins and a mustard jar. When the VOC was disbanded in 1798, its possessions fell to the Batavian Republic
, the legal successor of which is the current Dutch State, which therefore
is entitled to the objects from the Rooswijk. They were presented to Junior Minister of Finance Joop Wijn
in Plymouth
on 11 December 2005.
The type of coins recovered were several hundred Mexican silver cobs of the 1720s and early 1730s and transitional "klippes
" of 1733-1734, as well as many more hundreds of “pillar dollars” and a smattering of cobs from other mints.
The salvage operation has led to criticism from heritage organisations worldwide, as some of the international principles concerning the protection of archaeological heritage (Valletta Treaty
1992, UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
2001) were ignored.
The wreck site was designated as a protected wreck
on 18 January 2007. Statutory Instrument 2007/61 defines the restricted area as a circle of radius 150 m centred on 51° 16.443' N 01° 34.537' E.
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
) that, according to recent, non-contemporary, news reports, sank in 1740.
Construction and service
According to the recent reports, the Rooswijk was built for the VOC "Chamber of Amsterdam" in 1737. On 9 January 1740, during its second journey to the east, it sank on the sand bank of Goodwin SandsGoodwin Sands
The Goodwin Sands is a 10-mile-long sand bank in the English Channel, lying six miles east off Deal in Kent, England. The Brake Bank lying shorewards is part of the same geological unit. As the shoals lie close to major shipping channels, more than 2,000 ships are believed to have been wrecked...
, about 8 km from the British mainland. There were no known survivors. At the time, it was captained by Daniel Ronzieres.
Wreck
The Rooswijk was discovered on the Goodwin Sands by an amateur diver in 2004. It lies in about 24 metres (78.7 ft) of water at the northeast end of Kellett Gut.In December 2005, it was made public that between May and September of that year a team led by Rex Cowan had recovered some of the ship and its contents. This was done in secrecy to avoid attracting looters. Artifacts recovered included approximately one thousand bars of silver, gold coins and a mustard jar. When the VOC was disbanded in 1798, its possessions fell to the Batavian Republic
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
, the legal successor of which is the current Dutch State, which therefore
is entitled to the objects from the Rooswijk. They were presented to Junior Minister of Finance Joop Wijn
Joop Wijn
Joannes Gerardus Wijn was Minister of Economic Affairs in the third Balkenende cabinet of the Netherlands....
in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
on 11 December 2005.
The type of coins recovered were several hundred Mexican silver cobs of the 1720s and early 1730s and transitional "klippes
Klippe (coin)
A klippe is a square coin minted on more easily produced square flans either using round or square dies. These coins were originally issued under unfavourable conditions, such as a city under siege. Such emergency coinage were issued in Vienna in 1529, while the city was besieged by the troops of...
" of 1733-1734, as well as many more hundreds of “pillar dollars” and a smattering of cobs from other mints.
The salvage operation has led to criticism from heritage organisations worldwide, as some of the international principles concerning the protection of archaeological heritage (Valletta Treaty
Valletta treaty
The Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological heritage of Europe, usually referred to as the Valletta Treaty or Malta Convention, is an initiative from the Council of Europe. The treaty from 1992, aims to protect the European archaeological heritage "as a source of European collective...
1992, UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on 2 November 2001 is an international treaty aimed at saving the underwater cultural heritage....
2001) were ignored.
The wreck site was designated as a protected wreck
Protection of Wrecks Act 1973
The Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which provides protection for designated shipwrecks. Section 1 of the act provides for wrecks to be designated because of historical, archaeological or artistic value. Section 2 provides for designation of...
on 18 January 2007. Statutory Instrument 2007/61 defines the restricted area as a circle of radius 150 m centred on 51° 16.443' N 01° 34.537' E.
External links
- English Heritage has a detailed archaeological report and other documents on its website.