Dutch Captain: Jacob van Berchem

Jacob van Berchem served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. Sadly, I do not have much information about him. We know that he served in De Ruyter's fleet sent to the Sound in 1659-1660. In that fleet, he commanded the Tromp (or Muiltromp). The Tromp was built in 1655 at Amsterdam, probably in the continuation of the First Anglo-Dutch War building program. In 1659, the Tromp carried 40 guns and had a crew of 190 men. Her dimensions were 130ft x 32ft x 13-1/2ft. Sources:

1. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
2. H.A. van Foreest and R.E.J. Weber, De Vierdaagse Zeeslag 11-14 Juni 1666, 1984.
3. G. L. Grove, Journalen van de Admiralen Van Wassenaer-Obdam (1658/59) en De Ruyter (1659/60), 1907.