Bataviawerf

Bataviawerf is the shipyard in Lelystad where a full-size replica of the Batavia, a seventeenth-century ship of the Dutch East India Company, was built using the methods of its own time. The original Batavia was launched in 1628 and set out on her maiden voyage to the Dutch East Indies the following year. She never arrived. The ship ran aground on a reef off the coast of Western Australia, and in the aftermath a group of survivors was caught up in a mutiny and a series of killings, which made the wreck one of the most notorious in maritime history.

The replica project began in the mid-1980s and was unusual in two ways. First, the shipwrights worked from historical records, archaeological findings and the wreck itself, which was excavated in Australia, to rebuild the hull as faithfully as possible, using oak, hand tools and traditional joinery. Second, the yard was also used as a training place, where young people could learn craft skills. The ship was launched in 1995 and has since been a landmark on the waterfront of Lelystad, at 56 metres or so in length, with three tall masts and a richly decorated stern.

Visitors can walk aboard and explore the decks, cabins and holds, which gives a sense of the cramped conditions in which hundreds of sailors, soldiers and passengers lived for months at a time. Guides explain how the ship was built and sailed, how supplies were stored and what life was like. At the yard, craftsmen continue to work on wooden vessels, and visitors can see traditional tools and techniques in use. Smells of tar and timber add to the atmosphere.

The yard is part of the larger Batavialand complex, which also covers the history of Flevoland and the story of how the polders were reclaimed from the water. This makes the site a good place to understand both the Golden Age of Dutch seafaring and the later struggle to create new land. The wider area has other attractions, such as Aviodrome, the nature park and the land art around the town.

The visit suits families, history lovers and anyone interested in ships. Allow two to three hours. Check opening times and tickets with the organisers, as arrangements change with the season, and dress for wind on the deck.