Collection highlights

One of the top pieces in the collection at Kaap Skil is a seventeenth century dress of royal allure, surfaced from the bottom of the Wadden Sea. This dress is currently being examined, after which it will be displayed again at Kaap Skil. The precious garment has remained practically intact despite a stay of almost four centuries on the sea floor.

A metal money chest 72 x 38,5 x 42 cm. It is the chest in which the proceeds from selling ferrous (containing lots of iron) water were kept. That water was sold to sailing vessels anchored on the Roads of Texel. In Museum Kaap Skil, the chest is found in one of the rooms off of the hall with the Roads of Texel model.

The Oranje was an East Indiaman. This type of ship was specially designed for the long voyages to the Indies, under the flag of the VOC. They had a large capacity for carrying cargo in order to bring back lots of trading goods.

For a long time, the Hollandia was the flagship of the Dutch war fleet. Tromp and de Ruijter alternated as commander. When the Zeven Provinciën went into service and took over the function as flagship, the Hollandia was used for rapid surprise attacks.

The Vrouwtje van Stavoren was a straatvaarder: a fluyt which was designed for voyages along the southern European coast. It carried relatively few canons on board and probably transported mostly French wines.

The Amste-lant was a pinas. Pinas schooners were fast, well-armed sailing vessels with considerable room for cargo. Thanks to these features, pinas schooners were popular among pirates.

A gilt silver cup, surfaced from a 17th century ship wreck laying on the bottom of the Wadden Sea. Personal belongings from the richest years of the Golden Era were found in this so-called Palmwood wreck. The cup is currently being examined, after which it will be displayed again at Kaap Skil. 

The oriental kaftan, found in a seventeenth-century shipwreck that lies on the bottom of the Wadden Sea. Hundreds of unique objects have been found in this so-called Palmwood wreck, including an extremely unusual collection of textile. This wardrobe contains mostly western clothing; however, scientists from the School of Historical Dress in London have identified this garment as an oriental kaftan.

Thirteen fragments of an oriental carpet, surfaced from a seventeenth-century shipwreck that lies on the bottom of the Wadden Sea. Among other things, you see illustrations of animals and flowers on the remnants. Scientists hink that the carpet was fabricated in the north of India, in the region of Lahore.