DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Dutch news & articles
UK shipwreck identified as 17th-century Klein Hollandia warship
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

UK shipwreck identified as 17th-century Klein Hollandia warship

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

From Haags to Hollandic: A guide to Dutch dialects and accentsFrom Haags to Hollandic: A guide to Dutch dialects and accents
Dutch labour crisis continues: 122 jobs for every 100 unemployedDutch labour crisis continues: 122 jobs for every 100 unemployed
Dutch economy in 2024: High inflation, high poverty, and rising purchasing powerDutch economy in 2024: High inflation, high poverty, and rising purchasing power
Centuries-old coins discovered at farm in Eindhoven Centuries-old coins discovered at farm in Eindhoven
Dutch town of Dalfsen the happiest place in the Netherlands, AD reportsDutch town of Dalfsen the happiest place in the Netherlands, AD reports
Dutch inflation rate falls, but food prices remain highDutch inflation rate falls, but food prices remain high
Amsterdam and The Hague among the world’s 50 most expensive cities Amsterdam and The Hague among the world’s 50 most expensive cities
Dutch house prices on the rise again - but only slightly Dutch house prices on the rise again - but only slightly
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairsWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Jan 27, 2023
Victoria Séveno
Victoria grew up in Amsterdam, before moving to the UK to study English and Related Literature at the University of York and completing her NCTJ course at the Press Association in London. She has a love for all things movies, animals, and food. Read more

A shipwreck discovered off the coast of England in 2015 has now been identified as the Klein Hollandia, a warship from the Netherlands dating back to the late 1600s which was involved in several major battles in the Second Anglo-Dutch War. 

Dutch warship discovered off south coast of England 

Extensive work carried out by a team of archaeologists means that this week the shipwreck, which was discovered off the southern coast of England in 2015, has been identified as the Klein Hollandia. Based on evidence gathered by a team of professional and volunteer divers, Historic England and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) have been able to confirm the ship’s identity. 

According to the RCE, the shipwreck is in remarkably good condition, with The Guardian reporting that Historic England hopes it will “offer a wealth of information about how 17th-century Dutch ships were built and the activities of the warship during its final voyage.” Gunay Uslu, the Dutch State Secretary for Culture and Media, agrees: “This provides valuable knowledge and important insights into the shared history of our seafaring nations.”

UK-NL cooperation leads to great archeological find off the British coast: wreckage Dutch ship Klein Hollandia.
Probably sunk by English ships in 17th century.
From times of war to #NorthSeaNeighbours …
Great pictures by James Clark. pic.twitter.com/0Nb3lrqkHf

— Karel van Oosterom (@KvanOosterom) January 27, 2023

“From our very first dive on the wreck, back in April 2019, we have been fascinated by the range of material on the seabed,” the RCE’s CEO Mark Beattie-Edwards explained. “The impressive amount of wooden hull structure, the ships’ cannon, the beautifully cut marble tiles, as well as the pottery finds, all point towards this being a Dutch ship from the late 17th century coming back from Italy.”

The history and demise of the Klein Hollandia

Built in 1656, the Klein Hollandia was owned by the Admiralty of Rotterdam - the military body that helped govern the Dutch navy - and was involved in various key naval operations in the second half of the 17th century. 

Most notably, the ship played a vital role in the Netherlands’ victory against England during the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667), which was largely caused by the commercial and maritime rivalry between the two countries. The majority of naval battles took place on the North Sea and the English channel, but in the later years of the war fighting eventually spread to the Caribbean. 

The Klein Hollandia is known to have been involved in all the major battles of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, but met its demise in March 1672 after it was left severely damaged following a surprise attack by an English squadron under the command of Admiral Sir Robert Holmes near the Isle of Wight. The attack is said to have contributed to the start of the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672.

Thumb: Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) divers measuring timbers of the Klein Hollandia © Martin Davies.

By Victoria Séveno