The original ship was built in Delfshaven in 1783 and was used to escort and protect convoys of merchant-ships of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in the European waters. The 60 guns ship sank in 1797 during the important Battle of Camperdown with the British. This battle was means the definitive end of the Netherlands as a major naval power. Pieces of the shipwreck were found in 1977 just outside the coast close to Scheveningen. At historical shipyard De Delft people are working on the reconstruction of the 18th century ship in the Delft class. 'De Delft' will become one of the largest ship replica's in the world!
