History
On May 30 or 31, 1698, a Dutch ship sank near a place now called 'Punta del Holandés' in Cuba. The remains were found in 1967 between Cape Corrientes and Cape San Antón.
Name
Spanish sources revealed that a Dutch ship had run aground on the southwest coast of Cuba. There was a dispute over money, which local fishermen allegedly concealed. Therefore, the authorities in Havana investigated and documented everything related to the accident. Except... the name of the ship in question. Since its discovery, the wreck has been referred to as Pecio Punta del Holandés.
Until February 2026. Recent research in the Amsterdam City Archives has yielded a certificate. In it, Willem Sievers, skipper of the Juffrouw Maria, states that his ship sank in Cuba. Hendrik Klaasen, boatswain, and Jan Klinckart, first mate, are witnesses and co-signatories in the Amsterdam archival document. All three also appear in Spanish sources.
Cargo
The cargo consisted of sugar, logwood*, and hides. The cargo and inventory were partially salvaged and auctioned. These included the bronze ship's bell, 26 rosaries, cocoa, iron musket balls, a copper kettle, and some clothing.
The salvaged and seized money was listed separately:
11,416 silver pesos (known as reales of eight) and 344 gold Castilian doblas coins. The auction of the goods was held in Havana on August 2, 1698. The money reverted to the crown.
Description
Armament: 20 - 25 canons.
| Master | Sievers, Willem |
|---|---|
| People on board | 37 |
| Length | 95 Amsterdam feet (26.9 m) |
Status
The wooden parts of the ship are not preserved. The wreck site is near the coast at a depth of 3 metres. On the site 18 guns, 4 anchors and ballast stones were found in situ. In October 2014 a survey was performed on the site.
Research has been performed by SERMAR on the wreck in October 2014.
The exhibit 'Presencia holandesa en las aguas Cubanas'.
This exhibit ran from 16 November 2014 until 1 March 2015 in the Museo Castillo de la real Fuerza in Havana. It presented the results of an historical and archaeological research project on two Dutch wrecks in Cuban waters, one of which was the the Punta del Holandés wreck. The findings were presented in 13 panels describing the Dutch influence in Cuban waters.
References
- pp 455,456.
Archief Amsterdam.
notaris Dirk van der Groe. - transcriptie.
Archivo General de Indias. Escribanía de Cámara, legajo 53-B.