The VOC returning ship Batavia was built on the Peperwerf in Amsterdam in 1628 at the behest of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). On 4 June 1629, the ship, carrying a crew of 332 and heading for Java, was wrecked on its maiden voyage off the coast of Western Australia.

The reconstruction of the Batavia began in 1985. Headed by master shipbuilder Willem Vos, a changing group of long-term unemployed, volunteers and employees worked on the ship. The basic aim was to create an authentic reconstruction, using original materials and a traditional construction method. On 7 April 1995, the ‘Batavia' was christened and launched by Queen Beatrix.

Despite the frugal nature of the Dutch, VOC ships were lavishly decorated with ornate woodcarvings. The figurehead on the Batavia - a striking limewood lion - is the face of the ship, as it were.

The stern is the Batavia's calling card. You can read which ‘company' it is from - in this case the VOC - and where it comes from. The VOC had six departments, each with their own letter. A = Amsterdam. The hollow section features a wonderful painting of a seascape. The four standing figures are two Germans and two Nassaus, referring to the myth of Batavia, from which the ship took its name. The strange figures underneath served to ward off sea spirits.

Back to the plan of the shipyard