SS 'Nederland'

The SS 'Nederland' was a milestone in modern Dutch ship building. The ship was built in the eighties of the 19th century when Dutch ship building was in a deep crisis. British yards at that time were far superior over the rest of the world. The Rotterdam yard 'Fijenoord' wanted to show the rest of the world that Dutch ship building could be as good as British ship building by building the SS 'Nederland' at it's own account. It was the first ocean going steamship in Dutch history, which measured almost 100 metres in length. The 'Nederland' sailed for one year in service of the Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maatschappij (Dutch Steamboat Company) but was sold after one year to the Nederlandsch Amerikaansche Stoomvaart-Maatschappij (Dutch American Steamboat Company - later called Holland America Line). The name was changed in 'Leerdam'. It is said that changing the name of a ship brings bad luck. In the case of the 'Leerdam' it surely did. Only 9 years after its launch it collided with the English vessel 'Gaw Quan Sia' in the North Sea. Both ships sank. Apart from two Chinese stokers on the British ship all passengers and crew were rescued. The model of the 'Leerdam' measures (lxwxh) 196 x 43 x 94 cm.