Sad news from the Netherlands last week. The historic replica ship Prins Willem caught fire and was totally consumed in the port of Den Helder, where it was a popular site for tourists and local maritime buffs alike. The original Prins Willem was the flagship of the Dutch East India Company, built in 1649 and wrecked off the coast of Madagascar in 1662.
The replica ship was built in the 1980s, and served as an ambassador from the Netherlands to Japan for many years. As an institute involved in the reconstruction of historic watercraft, including the Galveztown replica ship, we mourn the loss of this striking vessel and and our hearts go out to those maritime enthusiasts who built, sailed, cared for, and visited her. Seeing this majestic ship go up in flames cannot help bring back memories of the burning of Cutty Sark back in May 2007.
