Batavia VOC ship arrives in Amsterdam for preservation

The Batavia, a full-scale reconstruction of the 1628 Dutch East India Company (VOC) ship, has arrived at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam for a complex salvage and preservation operation. Towed by two tugboats from Lelystad, the 56.6-meter wooden vessel was moved with its masts still upright, reaching a height of 30.5 meters above the waterline.

The decision to move the ship was driven by serious rot discovered in its wooden hull after 31 years in the water. To protect the fragile structure, cannons and much of the ballast were removed, and temporary steel supports were installed. The ship is being placed in dry dock 4 at Damen, the same location where it was originally launched in 1995.

Once in the dry dock, the Batavia will be placed on a specially designed steel support structure weighing approximately 100 tons, built by Niron Staal. Following this phase, the ship is scheduled to be moved to the Batavialand Museum in Lelystad on a large pontoon in early October. The goal is to display the vessel on land to prevent further decay and ensure its long-term preservation. The museum is expected to reopen at its new location by the end of 2028.