The 'Franse Europa' was originally a French warship. On July 9, 1672, two ships of the French East India Company, ‘De Europa’ and the ‘St. Jan Baptist’, were captured in the bay of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). (daily register 4-10-1672)

Attack by French fleet
War had broken out in Europe. The Republic was being attacked from three sides by England, France, and the Bishop of Münster (Disaster Year 1672). In March 1672, a French fleet under Admiral de La Haye had attacked and occupied the VOC stronghold of Trincomalee. However, the French could not hold out for long; due to a lack of food and supplies, the French fleet departed again. A small garrison and eventually four ships were left behind. Subsequently, this garrison had to surrender on July 9, 1672. In addition, four ships were captured: De 'Europa', 'St. Jan Baptist', The Phoenix and the Indian with 112 iron pieces.¹

St Helena
On January 17, 1673, the VOC return fleet of six ships departed from Batavia bound for the Netherlands. Command was held by Abraham Huybertsen, skipper of Het Wapen van Ter Veere. The fleet consisted of: Wapen van Ter Veere, Alphen, Papenburg, De Franse Europa, Pijnacker, Stermeer. (Diary Register January 15, 1673)

To strike the British, the Dutch fleet attacked wherever possible. For instance, a Dutch naval squadron led by Jacob de Gens had captured the English-held island of St Helena without significant resistance (January 1, 1673). The English governor, Anthony Beale, fled to Brazil.

Return Fleet
On May 13, a British naval squadron under Commander Richard Munden arrived at St Helena. His mission was to bring supplies and reinforcements for the English garrison on St Helena. Furthermore, he had to intercept the English EIC return fleet and convoy it to England. Munden, in turn, managed to quickly recapture the island. Munden heard from prisoners there that the VOC return fleet of 1673 was approaching.

The French Europa
Shortly thereafter, one VOC ship, the ‘French Europa’, indeed arrived at the roadstead of St. Helena. The rest of the VOC fleet had sailed on. The ‘French Europa’ had orders to call at St. Helena first and follow later. In addition to supplies for the Dutch garrison on St. Helena, the Europa had the new governor 'Breitenbach' on board. The Dutch flag was still flying over Fort St. James. The ship anchored unsuspecting and was subsequently captured. Munden then set course for Ascension, where they were to pick up five English India Company ships. (Kitching, 64)

Pursuit
On the way to Ascension, the Alpen and the Wapen van Ter Veer were captured and taken to England as prizes. The Papenburg, Pijnacker, and Stermeer managed to escape. They took the 'route around the back' via the west coast of Ireland and the north coast of Scotland to the North Sea. This was to avoid the British ships in the English Channel.

Munden set off in pursuit. He was delayed by his prizes but had the advantage of being able to take the short route to the North Sea through the English Channel. Near Texel, he encountered the three remaining VOC return ships coming from the North. There, the Papenburg was captured. The Pijnacker and Stermeer managed to escape and arrived safely in the Netherlands. The fact that four of the six VOC ships had been captured represented a major setback for the VOC. Munden arrived in Portsmouth on August 20 with his captured VOC ships. He was knighted later that year for his actions at St. Helena and the capture of such rich booty.

English service
The Europa entered English service. While on a mission in the Mediterranean, she caught fire and sank. The fire was likely caused by negligence on board. Later, two sailors were executed for setting the ship on fire. Under Captain William Betts.²

• DAS 5643.1
• Dagregister 4-10-1672
• Kitching, G.C. (1950)
  The loss and recapture of St. Helena, 1673
  The Mariner's Mirror
  pp 58-68
• threedecks.org
  Europa