Wreck diving in Holland
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My name is Sjoerd van der Wielen. I was born and
raised on the small Island of Terschelling on the
North coast of Holland, it is still my home today.
Terschelling has a very rich history of seafaring and
was the home for many commanders from the
Dutch East India Company (VOC) during the golden
age, and in more recent times many of the Island
inhabitants fished for Whales in the Northern
regions and around Nova Zembla and the Barents
sea.
My father was Captain on the legendary salvage
hunter “Holland” for 30 years which had its glory
period after the second world war. This was before
the age of electronic navigation and traffic
separation schemes when the sea in this are was
full of mines.
He and his crew saved many ships from being
wrecked in this part of the North Sea which is still
feared and respected by all seafarers for the strong
winds and shallow waters.
Even though there were many successful salvages
there is a tremendous long list of ships which were
less fortunate and became victim of the elements.
They are now the silent witnesses of the intensive
shipping in the past.
Shipping History
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In the very early period of shipping the Vikings
plundered the coast of Europe. when time went on
trading became more intensive and Merchants from the
early Hanze cities started their merchandizing with ships
which soon ruled the waves. This marked the golden
age for Holland in the 17th century. It was a time of
growing international trade when Holland was
competing with Portugal, Spain, England and France.
The shipping trade for the Netherlands was
concentrated in the Far East but also in the West Indies
Dutch privateers were fighting for land and wealth.
Numerous fleets were equipped and assembled around
the Frisian Islands before they set sail for the long
voyages to distant coasts and if they managed to return
they were often laden with exotic cargoes.
The conflict of powers took its toll and often resulted in
confrontations between the Sea powers. There were
several wars between Holland and Spain (the 80 years
war) and 4 Anglo Dutch Wars and during this period
many clashes with enemy fleets and also pirates ships
sailed the Dutch coast and left their marks, but the
common enemy for all early shipping in the age of Sail
remained the bad weather. The Sea around the
Netherlands is infamous for the fierce storms in Autumn,
winter and early spring and caused many ships to
become wrecked and send sailors to their watery
graves.
Salvage & Diving
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The wrecks of more recent times are
comprised of the victims from two world
wars. During these times many ships were
sunk by battle, mines and submarines.
Wreck diving is not new. The Siebe &
Gorman Standard diving helmets were used
during the first commercial diving
operations that took place close to
Terschelling in the early 19th Century at the
wreck of the “HMS Lutine”. In 1799 the
Lutine, bound for Germany , grounded and
was wrecked with the tressure cargo of gold
and silver worth at that time 16 billion
pounds.
Although some gold and silver bars and
coins were salvaged during many salvage
operations during the centuries even until
today the hunt for the missing treasure
continues.
The bell which was salvaged during one of
these campaigns can be found today in the
head office from Lloyds Register in London
They were the insurer of the cargo. In the
past when news of disaster arrived the bell
was sounded
Dead of a ship becomes Birth of a dive club
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Although Terschelling was always a popular destination for
tourists who loved the beach and the sea it was only after the
1950 that tourism took off and became the most important
source of income from the Island; originally a closed community
for fisherman, sailors and farmers.
With the growth of the tourist industry an interest in recreational
diving was born and in 1975 a few enthusiastic diving pioneers
founded a dive club with the name “Ecuador” after a famous
Swedish wreck from the Johnson line that hit the dangerous
Terschellinger banken (sands) and after a long battle with the
salvagers was lost and broke up Like many others before her this
was in the year 1956 and was one of the first salvage operations
for my father who just started on the Holland to become the
Skipper soon after this.
Because of their involvement in shipping the seafaring residents
of Terschelling Island have always been interested in wrecks.
The timbers and rigging of ships wrecked on or near the beaches
of the Island were used for building farm houses and barns and
the rich cargoes were a very welcome complement to the
Island’s inhabitants who normally lived a harsh and poor life.
During all these years many wrecks became legends due to the
nature of the cargo or the dramatic circumstance under which the
ships crews died. The heroic rescues which more then often cost
the lives of the Islanders can be seen at the graveyards on the
Island today
There are tell tale stories about the Islanders attracting ships
with fake lights into a death trap and then killing the crews and
stealing the cargoes
At one time a sailing ship “Wilhelmsberg” with colonists from
skandinavia to the USA became victim of the waves. The story
goes that the Captain had the hatches nailed shut. Later 271
bodies washed up on the beach. The island’s inhabitants carried
all the bodies away by horse and wagon and burried them in the
grave yard of the closest village church. The wagon track they
used is to this day called “dead body road.
Club activities
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The diving club has located many of
the old Legendary ship wrecks in its
first ten years. In all over 200 wrecks
have been found by the diving club at
or near the island
In the first years the diving took place
from small boats but when the club
became bigger and the voyages longer
The club bought a fishing vessel which
was converted for anchor salvage.
Purchase and conversion cost were
initially financed by the club members
but these costs were quickly paid for
by salvage money made clearing
propellors, recovering lost fishing gear
and selling recovered non-ferrous
metals. These earnings allwed the club
to invest in better equipment and
electronic instruments such as
sophisticated echo sounder and side
scan sonar. A hyperbaric chamber was
purchased from the Dutch Navy in
case there was a diving incident.
Club house
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During the first years when thee
dive club was steadily growing there
was a need for a clubhouse. Years
has passed since the old rowing
rescue boat from the harbour of
West Terschelling had been
exchanged for a motor rescue boat
and the boathouse had been used
for packhouse and was in a bad
state, so the club rented it for a
symbolic fee and touched it up and
has been the home of dive team
ever since. During the years it has
been moved when the harbour was
converted and the area around the
clubhouse has become an open air
museum with canons anchors and
other ship rigging and cargo
Wreck finds
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During these years there were many spectacular finds.
One remarkable find was the German Steam Ship
“Thassos”, which ran aground in 1897 on the way from
Germany to Constantinople. She had a general cargo
that contained countless items such as china and other
house goods. The local museum is filled with artifacts
from the Thassos
Another wreck found was the British “HMS Medusa”.
She was a WW1 destroyer damaged by collision during
a raid on Germany. She was taken under tow to
England when she was lost and came to rest not far
from the position of the “Ecuador”
The first submarine located was the wreck of the
German “UB 61”; a coastal sub that ran into a mine and
was lost with all hands. During this accident the patrol
vessel which was leading the convoy of the “UB 61” and
went to her rescue also hit a mine and was lost as well;
along with much of her crew
Archeology
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The search for salvage has resulted in the
discovery of many other historic wrecks. The
Dutch archeological department has worked
together with the diving team to identify several
finds. They have been of great assistance,
providing information about the age or ship type
of these wrecks. However it soon became clear
that theirs was nearly an impossible task since
each discovery was of such rich historical value.
Archives have revealed statements of ships sunk
by the hundreds during the 16th and 17th century.
Many were lost while riding the anchor and
waiting favorable winds. Others were sunk during
action with the enemy.
War at Sea
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On one occasion in 1666 while Holland was at war with England an English fleet under the
command of Admiral Holmes entered between the islands and burned 169 ships at the
roads. Afterwards they attacked and burned the Capital city of the Island West Terschelling.
Of all these wrecks only 2 have been positively identified and of the all the others the
remains are still buried under the ever shifting sands
As revenge for this cowardly act a Dutch fleet under the famous commander Michiel Adriaan
de Ruyter sailed toward England and entered the Thames towards Chatham. Once there he
burned and sank many British Admiralty ships and captured several others to take as prize
back to Holland. One of the captured ships was the admiral Flag ship “Royal George”. The
stern decoration from the “Royal George”is on display today the National Museum in
Amsterdam
Cannons
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Over the years there has been much
improvement in navigation techniques. Using
GPS and DGPS technology more and more
wrecks have been located. From most of
these very little is left. One wreck we found
dating from the 17th century consisted of little
more than a pile of canons of which 7 were
made of bronze and 23 of cast iron. Some
cannons carry the Spanish coat of arms
while others are clearly from the Dutch
Admiralty. Of these all are dated around the
first decennia of the 17th century. “Dendron”
testing was conducted on the wrecks
remaining timber these tests found that the
cutting date of the wood was approximately
anno 1590
British Submarine E-34
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Another spectacular find of recent years was the wreck
of the British E-class submarine from WW1; the E34.The wreck was discovered after a fishing vessel had
lost its net and the hydrographic service marked a
dangerous wreck in this position.
The position was checked by Ecuador dive team
members. A mine laying Submarine lost since 1918 was
found
During the more then 75 years on the seabed the
conning tower made of bronze was separated from the
hull and it was salvaged by the “Ursus” from dive team
Ecuador
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The conning tower of the E-34 was made of
bronze so the magnetic compass (which was still
in the conning tower after the salvage) would not
be negatively influenced by the steel hull
The submarine most likely had hit a mine. The
bow of the wreck was blown open like a burst
cigar. It is assumed that at the time she hit the
mine she most likely sailing on the surface since
the bodies of three of the crew were washed up on
the Island Texel. One of those killed was from this
Island. Commander Lt. Puleyene (Left on the
picture)
This wreck is very special. Shortly before she was
lost a camera crew had shot many pictures of the
boat and crew; a very uncommon thing in those
days well before the age of the digital camera
Another occurrence makes this wreck very special
for me personally. I had the privilege to salvage
the signal mast of the E-34. I placed it in my home
garden on the very same day I was contacted by
the old grandson of one of the lost crew members.
It turned out he was the Signal man!
(to the right of the picture taken on the conning
tower of E-34)
Story of the SS “Kerwood” Cargo
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According to the archives there are still
many wrecks to be found. One of the
wrecks the club was after for years was
very co-incidentally found by another
dive club who located it in a position
many miles from the location it was
presumed lost.
This American wreck “SS Kerwood” was
sunk when She hit a magnetic sea mine
during WW1. She’s an important find
since she was sunk with a cargo of
copper and lead ingots
The dive club who found this wreck by
accident however made one mistake
and sailed to the Island Terschelling.
When they showed the copper ingot the
hunt was on. The Ecuador finally found
the Kerwood but it took two years since
her location was kept secret by the
discoverers.
The secret was lost on a misty summer
day when one of the fisherman from the
island was out hunting for wrecks. He
was heading to a charted wreck North of
Terschelling when he almost collided
with the diving ship Zeester (Seastar);
the original discoverers.
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When the Fisherman (Walter Bakker) returned to the Island and told
the story to some of the Ecuador members the secret was finally out
and the next day the Ecuador headed to the position and found the
Kerwood
During two years the discoverers had salvaged several tons of
copper but due the small size of their boat they could not salvage
large amounts. The Ursus however, was better equipped and bigger
in size; ideal for recovery of the cargo and soon the holds were filled
with the precious metal.
The cargo of several hundred tons of copper and lead was huge and
even for Dive team Ecuador a heavy task the reason for this is that it
was all recovered by divers in 35 meters water depth and the
location was not close to the home port.
The Fisherman who revealed the secret had sleepless nights
thinking of how he could claim his own share of the valuable cargo.
He even took a diving course in order to be able to put see the
treasure himself When he could no longer make enough money from
fishing he equipped his boat with a Hydraulic grabble and headed to
the wreck to try his luck.
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At first he lost his anchors and had great difficulty staying in
position but after a few weeks he developed new techniques
to anchor and soon the first ingots landed on his deck and
the gold rush had started.
In the few remaining months before winter Walter Bakker
with his ship TS-6 became a real specialist in wreck
recovery. Each trip he further developed his skills and his
equipment became more and more sophisticated.
Eventually he had underwater camera’s and lights and
accurate positioning systems. In two seasons he managed
to salvage the multi-million dollar cargo up to the last ingot;
this to the despair of the other diving clubs who saw their
treasure earnings slowly disappear before their eyes.
But as an old saying on the island; “the sea takes and the
sea gives” and in this case it was Walter bakker who took it
all!
Treasure Hunt
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After the Salvage of the “Kerwood” copper and with
the continuing decline of income from fishing Walter
Bakker continued in his new trade. He started to
explore the North sea in search of sunken cargo and
metal. This was during a period when the price of
metals were up because of the new industrial boom
During His research he used charted wrecks and
positions from his colleague fisherman who had
during decennia built a data bank of known and
unknown bottom obstructions. Although several had
been explored by divers in the shallow waters near
the coast the deeper and more distant waters were
still virgin territory. Because of international laws
these waters outside the territorial boundaries
became his new fishing grounds
Unusual find
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During his explorations Walter has
found many lost wrecks whose
positions were completely unknown.
Once while hunting for the wreck of
the British submarine L-10 that sank
North west of the Island terschelling he
made a very unusual find.
At the approximate position where he
had hoped to find the lost L-10 he
discovered what at first appeared to be
just another uninteresting object. He
changed course assuming he had
located fouled fishing gear. Then he
checked his position again and noticed
a wreck on the side scan sonar. When
he lowered the subsea camera the first
images showed clearly a conning
tower from a Submarine; but which
submarine?
A container was seen lying next to the
submarine hull. At first it was feared to
be a explosive device but curiosity
overcame caution and the container
was brought to the surface. The
adrenaline flowed fast while opening
the container and even faster as the lid
gave way and a complete dry German
anti aircraft gun (FLAK c/30) was
exposed .
German WW2 U-boot U-1
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I put on my diving gear and began the
decent to 45 meters in the clear and
calm North sea water. I soon found
myself on a WW2 submarine; the first
person there since it had sunk. The
wreck was severely damaged. The
damage was surely caused by an
exploding sea mine. I explored the
submarine from the outside. Later,
using camera images and the
recovered artifacts we could positively
identify the Submarine as the lost
WW2 Class II coastal Submarine U-1
2nd Unusual find
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After the discovery of the U-1 Walter steamed to another unknown
contact about 2 miles distant.
While I was still exploring the recovered gun Walter located another
wreck and after lowering the camera again he called me up to the
bridge and said to me “you won’t believe this but I am again on a
submarine”. I thought he was making a joke but when I looked at
the camera I clearly saw the picture of a gun and as the camera
moved back a radio direction device and conning tower with two
periscopes came into view.
The unbelievable had happened, in search of the lost L-10 we had
located two unknown U-boats at a distance of two miles and in a
time span of less then three hours!
I had used all my dive time on the U-1 and had no time left to
descend again to explore the new find. However, the water was clear
and we were able to film the complete wreck. It was upright on the
bottom and largely intact and we estimated its length at 75 meters.
There was a large gap on the Starboard aft side behind the conning
tower at the proximity of the engine room. This also is believed to
have been caused by a mine explosion.
With the knowledge gained from images and research we were able
to positively identify this U-boot wreck as the WW2 U-25 lost with
all hands 1 August 1940.
The boat is from the Class I. Only two were built. They were
constructed before the beginning of the second word war were first
used training boats and then later in active war service. The
submarine was lost on the second patrol returning from the North
Atlantic after sinking thousands tons of allied shipping. The
U- boat still has not been dived upon by anyone. Planning has been
ongoing for two years to have an expedition go down and explore
the wreck further.
Wreck Museum
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The Wreck museum is situated in an old farm of which
the main structure of the barn is built from the wood of
the Bark “ Cyprian” which broke in two during a severe
storm and the crew was trapped on the wreck because
the rescue boat could not get trough the breakers due
to the floating cargo of timber which broke from the
ship and only after an islander managed to get on his
horse to the wreck to connect a rope which saved all of
the crew
The Museum is filled with artifacts from the wrecks
around the island and also hold a collection of diving
helmets
The owner is Hille van Dieren and is also one of the
Ecuador pioneers and has been for years the “head”
man of the club