Deels verbrand schip op de VOC-scheepswerf op Oostenburg, 1690 1690 - 1735

This print, made by Jan van der Heyden in 1690, shows a ship undergoing repairs at the Dutch East India Company shipyard. The primary material here is wood, essential for shipbuilding at the time, alongside rope, pitch and metal fixings. Look closely at the ship's structure; you can see where the fire has damaged the wood, requiring extensive work by the laborers in the scene. Their skilled craftsmanship is evident in the careful replacement and repair of the ship's timbers. This was painstaking, physical work. The print also reveals the scale of the Dutch East India Company's operations. This shipyard was a hub of activity, producing ships that facilitated global trade and colonization. The scene thus reflects the social context of maritime power, commerce, and the labor involved in maintaining it all. In appreciating this image, we’re not just seeing a historical scene but also acknowledging the labor, materials, and making practices that underpinned the maritime industry of the time.