2 Dutch treasure ships – the Campen and the Vliegende Draek – were lost in a storm off the Needles on 23rd October 1627.
The 2 luckless ships had been part of the Dutch East India Company’s autumn convoy that had set off for India and Indonesia laden with Dutch silver ‘Daalder’ and Spanish pieces of eight.
The Dutch captains were under specific instructions from Dutch East India Company not to venture too close to English soil and under no circumstances to anchor on English ground.
This was caused by a dispute between rival English and Dutch Companies in the Far East. The Dutch had tortured and killed a number of English in the Celebes in Indonesia in 1623, and King James I sought revenge.
However, the fleet was forced by a vicious gale to run for shelter in the Solent. 2 of the ships were so close inshore that they were forced to sail between the chalk stacks of the Needles.
The 320 ton Vliegende Draeck (Flying Dragon) tore a hole in her bottom and had to be beached, most probably in Alum Bay. Her 200 crew abandoned her – crowding aboard the other ships – and soon departed for fear of being seized by the English authorities.
The ship provided a bonanza for the island’s salvors and longshoremen. Before anything of value could be salvaged, it had been largely stripped and may have been patched up and taken to Yarmouth.
Her compatriot the Campen – carrying lead, gold and silver, coin – sank while attempting to “thread the Needles” (sail through the chalk stacks).
The wreck of the Campen was salvaged the following year by diver ‘Jacob de Duiker’ for the Dutch East India Company, who recovered 2,365 Spanish Reals together with her guns, anchors, and some of the lead
In June 1979, the wreck was re-discovered by Kevin Punch and Northampton British Sub-Aqua Club, lying in less than 30 feet of water.
Her hull was accessible, and 103 ingots weighing 62kg and some 2,000 coins and artefacts were recovered.
There may still be items of great value lying in the vicinity of the sunken vessel.
Suppose you could say it was double dutch.
I would wager in most every case much of the more valuable Gold is secreted away, and the less valuable and more cumbersome silver and lead is declared.
Well shivers me timbers a new hobby for me ! .. ans I’d only just taken up beach combing ! What next ?