Dutch Captain: Arent Dirckszoon

Arent Dirckszoon served the Admiralty of the Noorderkwartier. We don't know for sure what ship he commanded, but Arent Dirckszoon commanded a 26-gun ship in Witte de With's fleet in June 1645 that forced a convoy of merchant ships into the Sound without paying the toll to the Danes. Dr. Ballhausen says that Arent Dirckszoon fought in the Battle off Dover on 29 May 1645, in Pieter Florissen's squadron. He was with the fleet during the summer and took part in Tromp's voyage to the Shetlands in July and August 1652. He commanded the Monnick (or Monnikendam), a ship of 24 guns and a crew of 95 men. The Monnick eventually carried 28 guns and had a crew of 109 men. Arent Dirckszoon was with Witte de With's fleet in August and September and fought in the Battle of the Kentish Knock on 8 October 1652. Later in the year, he was with the fleet and fought in the Battle of Dungeness on 10 December 1652. Dr. Ballhausen says that Arent Dirckszoon fought in the Battle of Portland (the Three Days Battle) from 28 February until March 2 1653. Dr. Ballhausen also lists Arent Dirckszoon as having fought in the Battle of the Gabbard from 12 until 13 June 1653 and at the Battle of Scheveningen on 10 August 1653. We also know that in July 1654, Arent Dirckszoon commanded the Wapen van Alkmaar (28 guns), a ship of the same size as the Monnick. Sources:

1. C.T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.V, 1912.
2. Dr. Carl Ballhausen, Der Erste Englisch-Höllandische Seekrieg 1652-1654, 1923.
3. James C. Bender, unpublished manuscript "Dutch Ships 1600-1700", 2005.
4. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.I, 1898.
5. Dr. S.R. Gardiner, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.II, 1900.
6. Dr. S. R. Gardiner, and C. T. Atkinson, Ed., The First Dutch War, Vol.III, 1906.
7. Hendrik de Raedt, Lyste van de schepen van Oorloge onder het beleyt Admirael Marten Harpersz. Tromp, 1652.