In World War II, the Netherlands was quickly occupied. Some naval ships fought a short but fierce battle near the coast and in the waterways. Several ships sank during this battle. Significantly more British and German warships sank in Dutch waters in the following war years. Large numbers of merchant and fishing vessels were sunk. Many casualties occurred. The wrecks were often left behind and because of the victims present, these became war graves.
Numerous bombers and other aircraft also crashed into the North Sea or dumped their bombs into the sea on their way home. Even years after the wars, merchant ships still fell prey to dislodged mines. Between 10 May 1940 and August 1962, 148 more ships were hit by loose floating mines!
An inventory of war wrecks is being worked on. These will be shown on the Maritime Stepping Stones website.
Down on 22 February
Neptunus, De Grote († 1606, 419 years ago) Cabo Cruz, (Niquero district) Bahia Guacanayabo, Cuba
Ankeveen († 1663, 362 years ago) Fuzhou, China
Molenaar († 1682, 343 years ago) Thoothukudi, India
Akerboom († 1689, 336 years ago) Vlissingen?, Netherlands
Meermin († 1766, 259 years ago) Struis Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
Darlington († 1886, 139 years ago) Western Reef, Bermuda
Bandoeng († 1917, 108 years ago) Bishop rock, United Kingdom
Jacatra SS († 1917, 108 years ago) Bishop rock, United Kingdom
Zaandijk († 1917, 108 years ago) Bishop Rock, United Kingdom
Gaasterland († 1917, 108 years ago) Bishop rock, United Kingdom
An overview of ships that sank during World War II.
Wrecks of Flevoland
The Zuiderzee played an important role in the economy of the Low Countries since reaching its largest size in the Late Middle Ages.
Burgzand Noord
In the Wadden Sea lies the national monument Burgzand Noord, a location where sixteen historic shipwrecks from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries have been preserved.