On March 6, 1883, 17 ships of the fishing fleet of Moddergat (North Friesland) were wrecked during a heavy storm. 83 fishermen lost their lives. Of the 17 ships, three have never been found:

• De Nieuwe Klopper (WL 4)
• De Jonge Dirkje (WL 9)
• De Twee Gebroeders (WL 16)

http://www.klaaswiersma.nl/artikelen/moddergat.html

Chart with locations of strandings and groundings.

At the beginning of each season, the fishermen made a joint trip to the grounds north of the island of Borkum, to fish for plaice. The ships remained there for three weeks in a row. The ships were not seaworthy enough for such an extended stay at sea, but the earnings were so good that the fishermen took the risks for granted.

1883

At the close of winter in 1883, the beautiful weather caused unrest in the village. It was too early to go fishing. But still, at the beginning of March, a fleet of 22 ships sailed to the fishing grounds near Borkum. On March 5, all ships arrived at the grounds. The weather was good, with a moderate wind. It was, however, not te be. A storm gathered on the horizon, eventually it would develop into a severe storm from the north-east to north-west. Fishing continued throughout the day. The catch was disappointing. At the end of the day a tempest headed their way, bringing hail and snow. Few skippers decided to return to Moddergat. The rest remained and waited till the foul weather would blow over. With the wind building up a strong swell, the fishermen realized their predicament and ran for safety. They sailed towards the island of Schiermonnikoog. But the wind still increased. Vessels lost their rudders and became were out of control. All the men could do was to ride out the storm.

The next morning, on March 6, only the direction of the wind had changed, making it even worse for the fishermen. The swell was running amuck and produced extremely high waves, some say up to twenty meters. On board of the ships flushed with water, the crews managed to hold on for a long time. At seven o’clock in the morning the first ship went down. Later a second vessel capsized. Even then the weather was getting worse by the minute. Ship after ship fell prey to the waves. Only five boats made a safe passage into the Wadden Sea. At the end of the day seventeen ships had stranded on the nearby islands of Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog, or grounded on a sandbank in between.

The W.L. 4 was called "De Klopper". It was a barge of 30 tons that was built in 1846. It is possible that this barge was built in the Kuinre, because some older barges from the Paesumer fishing fleet came from here. The value of this ship was estimated at 2500 guilders. Owners were: Klaas Jitzes Visser, 43 years. 2/5; Douwe Jitzes Visser 1/5; Hermanus W. Wobma, a farmer from Metzelawier 1/5; J. Veenstra, not. at Metzelawier 1/5.

Spanvis.com

The perished crew consisted of:

• Klaas Jitzes Visser, (1839-1883) 43 years. Married. Surviving relatives: Pietje Taekes Visser (wife) 45 years, Taeke 14 years, Jitzes 12 years.
• Douwe Jitzes Visser, (1842-1883) 41 years. Married. Surviving relatives: Tjitske Frederiks Visser (wife) 40 years, Tjitske 13 years, Trijntje 11 years, Klaske 8 years, Frederik 6 years, Jitze 3 years, and Hiltje 9 months.
• Abe Christian Visser, (1855-1883) 28 years. Married. Surviving relative: Saapke J. Wieringa (wife) 20 years.
• Joeke Doekes de Vries, (1837-1883) in Paesens, aged 45. Married. Surviving relatives: Seike K Visser (wife), Kornelis 20 years, Doeke 18 years, Treintje 13 years, Elisabeth 9 years, Anna 8 years, Doetje 4 years.

Every single person on the ship drowned.

Source: https://www.spanvis.com/historie-friesland/moddergat-1/moddergat-2

Search for the lost ships of Moddergat, August 2018. Stichting Maritieme Archeologie.

• R. IJbema en H. de Haan.
  De ramp van Moddergat.
• R. IJbema en H. de Haan.
  De ramp van Moddergat.
  Stichting 't Fiskershuske.
• IsGeschiedenis.
  De ramp van Moddergat.
• Klaas Wiersma (2012).
  Ramp in moddergat. Reconstructie van een vissersdrama.
  Waterkampioen.
• Noorderland.
  De tragedie van Paesens-Moddergat.
• Trouw.
  In 1883 gaven de Nederlanders gul.
• Wikipedia.
  Vissersramp Paesens-Moddergat.