The Rise and Fall of the Dutch Whaling Empire
Apr 16th, 2015 by bachmann
In the 1590’s, the Dutch explored the Arctic regions looking for a sea passage to Asia. While their aspirations for a lucrative northeast passageway was never realized, the voyages did provide an unanticipated benefit for the growing Dutch economy. In addition to noting the proliferation of polar bears and walruses, these arctic expeditions sighted large quantities of whales off the coast of Spitsbergen and across the Greenland Sea. These revelations encouraged the Dutch to commit significant resources towards shipbuilding and naval supremacy, with the expectation of countless riches from the trade of whaling products. The British and French were unable to keep up with the Dutch, both in finance and capital to support this venture. The Dutch became the preeminent whalers of the 17th and early 18th century, killing some 30,000 whales, making huge profits, and establishing the Netherlands as the center of the whaling industry. Having a near monopoly on whaling, the Dutch kept the prices artificially high across Europe.
Much of our understanding of whaling at this time comes from the publications of Cornelis Gijsbertsz Zorgdrager, a Dutch navigator born around 1660, who commanded a number of whaling ships during this period of Dutch growth and dominance. Recognizing the proliferation of stories, fables, and legends regarding whaling, Zorgdrager decided to publish his own research and observations from his whaling days. His works showed how ships ought to be equipped, where whales and other sea inhabitants were to be found, and how to hunt and render the animals amidst ice floes and treacherous seas. He provides considerable detail about ships, on board provisions, equipment, hunting apparatus, and catches across the northern fishing areas and small coastal encampments. In addition to the general map of the northern regions, there are among others, maps of Iceland and of Greenland, as well as plates of various wildlife.
“My profession for several years having been fishing in Greenland, I felt obliged to acquire the knowledge and training they require… I noted very carefully in my annual register all the remarkable events that had come to me in order to have an accurate idea of my operations.” -Zorgdrager
Dutch supremacy in whaling over other European competitors like France, Germany and Britain eventually diminished in the second half of the 18th century as those countries became more powerful as a result of their colonial exploits.
- Persistent Link:
- http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:14226396
- Description:
- Zorgdrager, Cornelis Gijsbertsz. Cornelius Gisbert Zorgdragers Beschreibung des Grönländischen Wallfischfangs und Fischerey :nebst einer gründlichen Nachricht von dem Bakkeljau- und Stockfischfang bey Terreneuf, und einer kurzen Abhandlung von Grönland, Island, Spitzbergen, Nova Zembla, Jan Mayen Eiland, der Strasse Davids u.a. ; aus dem holländischen übersetzt, und mit accuraten Kupfern und Land-Charten gezieret.
- Repository:
- Widener Library
- Institution:
- Harvard University