The Faam was a frigate purchased in 1715 for the sum of 46,000. The ship was deployed by the WIC as a cruiser/convoyer off the coast of Africa to apprehend smuggling vessels (known as 'lorredraaiers').

**First actions in Africa**

The Faam departed from Texel in January 1715. Once in Africa, the Faam managed to capture 4 smuggling ships. During an attack on three other ships, the Faam was battered and had to retreat to the WIC stronghold of El Mina with 5 dead on board. It was mainly smuggling vessels from Zeeland that attempted to trade on the African coast.

Nationaal Archief

Reward
After the necessary repairs, the frigate sailed again. Now two more Zeeland smuggling ships were attacked and captured. The Five Brothers and the frigate King of Prussia. These turned out to be great prizes. The King of Prussia was employed in WIC and renamed Hollandia.

Captain Jan van der Hoeven received a silver lampstand as a reward for bringing in several decoys that year.

Last mission
At the end of December 1718, De Faam was on patrol again together with De Hollandia. Off the coast of present-day Nigeria, the WIC cruisers encountered two Zeeland smuggling ships; 'The Jager' and the 'Vergulde Vrijheid'.

The Faam and Hollandia had to be towed to the harbourers with sloops due to the lack of wind. The Zeelanders were then ordered to lower the flag. The two did not want to surrender and started fighting. During this battle the Faam received a direct hit in the powder chamber and exploded on the spot. Of the 115 people on board, only 13 survived. Captain Jan van der Hoeven was killed.The Hollandia now took off and let the Zeeland Lorren Draaiers go.*

The WIC took it seriously and submitted several petitions to the States General. This should punish the Zeeland ships and their shipowners from Middelburg and ensure that the WIC was compensated.*

*) The Jager (skipper David De laa) and the Vergulde Vrijheid (skipper Daniel van Genuchten) set course for St. Eustatius to sell their approximately 800 illegally acquired slaves there. There, too, they got into trouble with the local WIC. Nevertheless, they were able to sell a portion of the enslaved people there and elsewhere. They were eventually welcomed as heroes in Zeeland (Heijer 281, Paesie 21)

• nationaal archief, Staten generaal 1.01.02
  ref. no. 812, pp 117
• Heijer, Henk J. den, (1997)
  Goud, ivoor en slaven: scheepvaart en handel van de Tweede Westindische Compagnie op Afrika, 1674-1740
  pp 280,m281
  Walburg Pers, Zutphen
• Paesie, Ruud (2018)
  WIC in gevecht met Zeeuwse smokkelaars
  Geschiedenis Magazine nr. 8
  pp 21