Nature Coast Hobby Shop

The Duyfken

In 1605, on the initiative of the VOC, Jan Willemsz Verschoor set up an expedition ‘to discover the large country of Nova Guinea and other East- and Southlands’. For this he equipped the small yacht Duyfken (Little Dove). This yacht, also called a ‘pinas’, had been in service for a while now, and had proven exceptionally well suited to exploration, due to her shallow draft and good manoeuvrability.

The Duyfken left the docks of Bantam under skipper Willem Jansz. and chief merchant Jan Lodewijksz van Rosingeyn in the following year, 1606. It landed in several places on the coast of the Southland, and eventually turned back to Bantam at approx. 13 degrees and 45 minutes latitude south due to lack of potable water. Jansz called this turning point ‘Keerweer’ (turnback), and it is called Cape Keerweer to this day.

This first acquaintance with the new land was not encouraging, due to skirmishes with the native people, but it was the first European contact with a centuries-old land and its original inhabitants. In 1606, Australia was truly put on the map for the first time, as Nova Hollandia, by the crew of the small ship Duyfken.

The model is in scale 1:50 and consists of laser-cut frames and deck structure, complete walnut planking for the hull (singlei-plank system), abachi (obechi) deck planking, sail material, wooden blocks and deadeyes, and four turned brass cannons. The building instructions are based on photos, and the rigging is based on photos and drawings. The model includes sail material with outlines printed and require cutting and stitching. There are four visible cannons on deck. The hull also has four closed gun ports.

Scale 1:50

Length: 25.5″ (650mm)
Width: 9.8″ (250mm)
Height: 21.7″ (550mm)