Large Dutch ships in 1652

The impression is often given that the Dutch only had small ships at the beginning of the First Anglo-Dutch War. Admittedly, most purpose-built warships were under 130ft (Amsterdam feet of 283mm), but there were many large hired ships. The largest were East Indiamen, of course, and we cannot be absolutely sure of there size, but Herbert Tomesen, from Artitec, is reasonably sure of some of their dimensions:

Adm    Name                     Guns Crew Length  Beam    Hold
M      Brederode                54   270  144ft   35ft    14.75ft
A      Vrede                    42   160  131.5ft 32.5ft  13.5ft
A      Vrijheid                 46   150  134ft   34ft    13.25ft
N      Eendracht                40   140  130ft   32ft    12ft
A-VOC  Vogelstruis              40   200  160ft   38ft    18ft
Mi-VOC Prins Willem             40   200  170ft   38ft    18ft
A-Dir  Alexander                28    95  131.5ft 27.75ft 13ft
A-Dir  David en Goliad          34   107  130ft   32ft    12ft
A-Dir  Elias                    34   112  132.5ft 30ft    13ft
A-Dir  Groote Vergulde Fortuijn 35   135  141ft   31ft    14.5ft
A-Dir  Gideon van Sardam        34   115  132ft   29.5ft  13.5ft
A-Dir  Kroon Imperiaal          34   125  130ft   30ft    12.5ft
A-Dir  Groote Liefde            38   114  132ft   29ft    13.5ft
A-Dir  Nassouw                  34   112  130ft   32ft    12ft
A-Dir  Neptunis                 36   125  138ft   32ft    13ft
A-Dir  Prins Maurits            34   116  130ft   30ft    13ft
A-Dir  Sint Francisco           28   100  133ft   28.25ft 13.25ft
A-Dir  Sint Matheeus            34   114  140ft   34ft    15ft
A-Dir  Sint Salvador            34   125  130ft   30ft    13.5ft
A-Dir  Valck                    28    95  132.5ft 26.17ft 12.75ft
A-Dir  Zwarte Leeuw             28   110  130ft   28ft    13.5ft
Ed-Dir Halve Maen               30*  110* 130ft*  28ft*   12ft*

There was also the Jaarsveld built for the Admiralty of Amsterdam in 1651. The Jaarsveld carried 44 guns, but we do not know her dimensions. Of course, in 1653, many more large ships entered service.