The 'Alphen' was a flute in the service of the VOC.

She began her first voyage on April 16, 1663, from Texel to Batavia. Subsequently, the ship remained in Asia until October 1667 before returning to the Netherlands on May 18, 1668.

On February 14, 1668, the ship departed for Batavia, now for the VOC Chamber of Zeeland. Once again, the ship remained in Asia for a few years. On February 4, 1673, the return fleet departed from Batavia bound for the Netherlands, under the command of Captain Abraham Huybertsz. The fleet from Batavia consisted of six flutes: Wapen van Ter Veere, Alphen, Papenburg, De Franse Europa, Pijnacker, Stermeer.1

Meanwhile, war had broken out in Europe. The Republic was attacked by England and France (Disaster Year 1672).

Saint Helena
To strike the British, the Dutch fleet attacked wherever possible. Thus, a Dutch naval squadron led by General Jacob de Gens had attacked Saint Helena. The English defenses were weak. The Dutch captured the island on January 1, 1673, without much resistance.

The return fleet arrived at the Cape (Cape Town) on April 20, 1673. On May 11, it departed for the final leg to the Netherlands. It was to sail via Saint Helena, which had just fallen into Dutch hands.

However, on May 13, the English commander Richard Munden launched a counterattack on Saint Helena. The English managed to recapture the island on May 15. Shortly thereafter, the VOC return fleet arrived at the roadstead of Saint Helena. The Dutch flag was still flying over the fort. Unsuspecting, the ships anchored and were subsequently overpowered by the English. In this way, the ships Alphen, Wapen van Ter Veer, and Franse Europa fell into British hands.

The Papenburg, Pijnacker, and Stermeer escaped. Eventually, the Papenburg was also captured near Texel in August. Only the Pijnacker and Stermeer arrived safely in the Netherlands.

• Kitching, G.C.
  THE LOSS AND RECAPTURE OF ST HELENA, 1673.