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History

Slot ter Hoge, or Slot ter Hooghe, was a merchant vessel sailing for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) between Patria and the East Indies. She was on her first voyage to the East Indies when she wrecked, only a year after being built, off the coast of the island Porto Santo, located northeast of Madeira. In total 221 individuals lost their lives.

Muzeeum/Wikimedia Commons

Painting of 't Slot ter Hoge at Rammekens by Jan Voerman.

Description

The Slot ter Hoge was built in 1723 in Middelburg and belonged to the Zeeland Chamber of the VOC.

Painting of 't Slot ter Hoge and other ships by Engel Hoogerheyden.

SkipperSteven Boghoute
People on board250
Length160.1 feet (48.8 m)
Tonnage850 ton (425 last)

Status

There were already attempts to salvage the wreck of the ship Slot ter Hoge in the 18th century by John Lethbridge who was hired by the Dutch in 1725, only a year after the wreck. But excavation of the site was not done on a proper level until Robert Sténuit excavated the wreck in the 1970s.

Drawing of salvage attempt by John Lethbridge in the 18th century

Drawing of salvage attempt by John Lethbridge in the 18th century.

An article was written by Sténuit regarding this wreck. "The treasure of Porto Santo" was published by National Geographic in August of 1975.

Frontpage of 1975 August issue of National Geographic

Frontpage of 1975 August issue of National Geographic.

Artefacts found on site included a large quantity of gold and silver coins and bullion, as well as some cannons.

Fish swimming among coins on the site of the wreck. Source: National Geographic

Fish swimming among coins on the site of the wreck (source: National Geographic).

Coins from the ship

Coins from the ship (source: National Geographic).

Cannon from the wrecksite on its way to the surface

Cannon from the wreck site on its way to the surface.

References

  • DAS 2600.1.
  • Sténuit, Robert (1975).
    TheTreasure of Porto Santo.
    National Geographic (Washington, D.C.).

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