De Halve Maen: Mission Transatlantic

MissionTRANSATLANTIC

3NEW NETHERLAND MUSEUM, Mission: Transatlantic

The Half Moon is to return home to the city of Hoorn, in a joint mission set up by the Westfries Museum of the city of Hoorn in the Netherlands and the New Netherland Museum in the U.S.A. The latter has owned and operated the replica ship Half Moon since it was launched in 1989. The Half Moon also ranks among the most illustrious ships in Dutch maritime history. This ship represents the essence of the Dutch Republic in the first quarter of the seventeenth century: entrepreneurial spirit, business instinct and a determination to explore the world. She is also forever linked to the special bond that exists between the Netherlands and the United States of America. The Spirit of the Half Moon™ is thus returning to the waters from which it left in 1609 in the form of the only operating seventeenth-century VOC museum vessel. The Half Moon stirs enthusiasm and we want to invite you to participate in this mission and help us realize our goal of returning this iconic vessel to its home waters. Welcome aboard.

Andrew Hendricks Chairman of New Netherland Museum/Half Moon

Ad Geerdink Director of the Westfries Museum

‘Hope lies in dreams, in imaginationand in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality’ Jonas Salk

welcome aboard


Dr. Andrew Hendricks and the then Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima of Orange on the deck of the Half Moon, Albany, New York, September 2009.


The Half Moon at Newburgh Bay. Painting by Len Tantillo

brief summary Some ships have changed the course of history and the Half Moon is one of them. This small and agile Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) ship owes her fame to the renowned voyage of discovery she made captained by the explorer Henry Hudson in 1609.

The New Netherland Museum in the U.S.A has been operating a full-scale authentic replica of the ship since 1989. The project was the initiative and dream of one man: Dr. Andrew Hendricks. As a descendent of a 1659 settler, Dr. Hendricks was inspired to underline the important role of Dutch settlers in American history. The New Netherland Museum has fulfilled this mission ever since.

The iconic 1609 voyage from Amsterdam to New York was commemorated in 1909 by a transatlantic transport of an earlier full-size replica Half Moon. This time our museum ship will celebrate the successful return of the original ship from America to the Netherlands. It will find a home port in the city of Hoorn where it will represent all that made the Netherlands such a successful maritime nation in the first quarter of the seventeenth century: Commodity and luxury trade, entrepreneurship, the search for new horizons, encounters with other cultures, and adventure. With its mutual heritage of many countries the Half Moon will increase the awareness in Europe of the shared, rich history of the area which was once called New Netherland and which now comprises the states of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania, the very region from which the United States blossomed.

Hoorn is a perfect match, given the city’s exceptionally scenic 17th century harbor and its rich maritime past, and the award winning Westfries Museum is world-renowned. The Westfries museum will manage the Half Moon as a museum ship, goodwill ambassador, and training ship, strengthening the special bonds between America and The Netherlands.


‘The people of the Countrie came flocking aboord, and brought vs Grapes, and Pompions, which wee

bought for trifles. And many brought vs Bevers skinnes, and Otters skinnes, which wee bought for Beades, Knives, and Hatchets. So we rode there all night.’

From the journal by Robert Juet, third mate on board the Half Moon, 1609.

Adrian Block Map, 1614


New NetherlandDutch merchants and settlers quickly followed the 1609 transatlantic voyage of the Half Moon and the New Netherland Company (NNC) was chartered as early as 1614 by merchants from Amsterdam and Hoorn. It was in this year that a map was created that appeared to have been the first time that the area in North America was labeled Nieuw Nederland. Initially fur trading, particularly beaver pelts, was the region’s main attraction. Soon the NNC was succeeded by the Dutch West Indies Company (WIC) and the great

cities of the middle Atlantic states including New Amsterdam, now New York City, were founded. Eventually New Netherland was transferred to the English as part a global settlement between The Netherlands and the English crown. The half century of New Netherland would prove to have a lasting influence on the United States. Among the better known legacies are its currency the dollar, derived from the Dutch coin the Daalder, a federal system of government, religious toleration and commercial corporation, even Santa Claus.

transatlantic one

Leo Belgicus (detail),door Claes Jansz. Visscher, 1609


1909 replica ship Half Moon being hoisted on the Holland-America Line ship

Soestdijk in the Netherlands and photos of the ship in

New York after arrival.


By 1909 New Amsterdam, now New York City, was the gateway to the New World. In three hundred years New York had become the metropolis of a booming country. With 3.5 million inhabitants it was by far the largest city in the United States of America, nearly double the population of the next biggest city, Chicago. In the entire world only the city of London had a larger population. All because of that voyage of discovery by the Half Moon. The Dutch government had understood early the importance of participating in a tercentennial celebration of the first transatlantic crossing by the Half Moon. It commissioned a full-scale replica of the Half Moon to be built in the Amsterdam naval shipyard. The project soon became a national event and was supported at the very highest possible echelons in the country. His Majesty the Royal Prince Hendrick himself had graciously agreed that the initiative could be presented under his auspices and the executives chosen to lead the project also reflected the importance the government had given to the plan. While efforts were under way in the Netherlands, on the other side of the Atlantic equal efforts were being coordinated at the highest level. The Dutch Ambassador in Washington, the Honorable Jonkheer Dr. Loudon, had formed the “Hudson Committee of the Hollanders of the city of New York” to prepare for the arrival of the replica and

other grand festivities. With considerable publicity the Half Moon was hoisted onboard the Holland-America ship Soestdijk on July 10, 1909, ready for its transatlantic voyage. Community leaders, governments, and businesses from both sides of the ocean had come forward to finance this “second voyage” of the ship from The Netherlands. When the Half Moon arrived in New York harbor ownership was transferred to a private organizing committee who had joined together to celebrate the joyful occasion. At the time also all those that helped finance the initiative were celebrated in newsprint and advertising for their support and vision of shared history. They have not been forgotten and their parts in history can still be savored in countless books, newspapers, and today even on the internet.

transatlantic two

Henry Alexander Ogden, The Half Moon, 1909.


HNLMS Tromp (F803) and Half Moon, New York Harbor, September 2009.


The 1909 replica burned in 1934 on dry land. There was no sailing replica of the Half Moon for the 350th anniversary in 1959, when the then 21-year old Princess, later Queen, Beatrix arrived in New York Harbor on the maiden voyage of the Holland-American liner SS Rotterdam. Traveling up the Hudson River towards Albany aboard Governor Rockefeller’s brother’s yacht Dauntless, the princess was welcomed to cities, colleges, historic sites, and churches with great enthusiasm. IBM published a book in both English and Dutch editions titled A Princess Conquers the Hudson Valley as a memorial of her trip.In 1989 a new replica was built and launched in Albany New York under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Hendricks, and since then owned and

operated by the New Netherland Museum. She has sailed in North American waters including the Great Lakes, the Atlantic sea board from Nova Scotia to the North Carolina, Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware, Connecticut and Hudson rivers.

In 2009 the population of New York City had more than doubled in a 100 years to 8.3 million people. The city and state of New York fêted the Spirit of the Half Moon during the 400th year celebrations and the museum ship Half Moon led the naval parade. The then Prince, now King, Willem- Alexander and Princess, now Queen, Máxima came aboard our replica ship Half Moon in Albany, N.Y. to chat with the student crew who were drawn from both New York and the Netherlands.

1909 - 2009

Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller and the then Princess Beatrix, Henry Hudson Ball.Albany, New York, September, 1959.


The Westfries Museum


The Half Moon as a museum shipWhere better than on a ship like the Half Moon can the story of early seventeenth-century Dutch shipping and shipbuilding be told? The story of trade, navigation and life on board ship; of voyages of discovery and the meeting of cultures. On the Half Moon you feel the ship live, you can touch everything. You hear the wood creaking and the wind in the rigging. You smell a living ship and learn respect for the way in which our ancestors succeeded with ships like this in the seventeenth century. First and foremost, the Half Moon is a museum ship that can be visited by individual visitors and groups, the education sector being a very important target group in this respect. A story which is told in person and on the spot is always the best way to educated and indeed the human factor is pivotal in the presentation of the ship. This is why guides will be trained and re-enactors used. The tour of the ship will be enhanced by a museological presentation at the nautical heritage centre (Foundation for Nautical Heritage), using the Westfries Museum’s expertise in the field of virtual reality.

The Half Moon as a training shipThe Half Moon is an ideal training ship. Young people can follow courses in long or short-haul sailing at the Zeevaartschool in Enkhuizen,a city near Hoorn. Approximately 10% of the students who study at this sailing school come from other countries. The Half Moon can be used for training purposes, particularly outside the tourist season. We will therefore be able to accomplish two purposes simultaneously because, while students practice and build up experience, the ship will be assured of a crew.

The Half Moon as an operating ambassadorThe Half Moon is the only operating seventeenth century VOC museum ship in the Netherlands. Sailing on her is, of course, the ultimate way to ‘experience’ the ship but because of her limited capacity, only twelve passengers can sail on her at any one give time. The Half Moon will, however, certainly be used as a sailing ship. Making an appearance on the water as an operating vessel at maritime events, she will fulfill an important ambassador’s function for Hoorn and for herself.

Mission Hoorn


The city of Hoorn will be ready.

Hoorn will be the Half Moon’s new home port for five years. It is hard to think of a location more suitable than this city. The magnificent historic harbor and the town’s rich maritime history underscore that the Half Moon and Hoorn are made for each other. The ship will be an enormous asset for the city as a tourist attraction and will boost the further development of the Oostereiland as a thriving cultural and nautical heritage center.A safe harbor location, an exciting museum and riveting year round programs by the Westfries museum await the Half Moon upon arrival. A new and additional public will be able to enjoy and experience living history on board the Half Moon. With your help the ship can come to Europe, The Netherlands, to Hoorn.The ship will be loaded on an ocean transport, just as the 1909 replica was and all involved in this 2015 voyage will be part of this next chapter of the Half Moon and part of the continuum of history. Be part of this unique opportunity to finance the transport.

You may wish to note that the New Netherland Museum is a not-for-profit foundation with a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS and that the foundation Friends of the New Netherland Museum has charitable 501(c)(3) status. Please consult your financial advisor for the associated tax benefits.

For those that wish to contribute in the Netherlands, they may donate to our partner, the WestFries Museum. The new tax law aiming to stimulate cultural events permits an additional 25% for individual tax deductions and 50% for corporate deductions.


• Transatlantic One was paid for in Daalders in 1609• Transatlantic Two was paid for in Guilders in 1909• Transatlantic Three must be paid in Dollars in 2015

The New Netherland Museum is offering opportunities to a few companies and individuals who have ties to the Netherlands and the United States to support Mission Transatlantic Three.

‘A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.’ William Shed

transatlantic three

Corporate Sponsors

Naming Rights SponsorA Naming Sponsor will have their name attached to all references to Mission Transatlantic. Leading SponsorsThe two Leading Sponsors will have their company’s name and logo next most prominently displayed on all Mission Transatlantic materials.

Co-sponsorsFour Co-sponsors will join the others with their company’s name prominently displayed on all Mission Transatlantic materials.

Individual Sponsors

Admiral ClassDonates $5,000+

Commodore ClassDonates $1,000-$5,000

Yachtsmen and YachtswomenDonate $500 - $1,000

Individual sponsors will be invited to participate in the farewell and welcoming ceremonies. Precedence will be acknowledged.

Make Mission Transatlantic happen!

New Netherland MuseumPO Box 10609Albany, New York 12201

+1 802-688-6887

© New Netherland Museum 2015

Documents

De Halve Maen: Mission Transatlantic