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This rare Dutch broadside sheet, showing "Profiles of the Lands as They Appear from the Sea, Situated in the North Sea on the East Coast of England and Scotland Between Orfordness and Aberdeen", was published by Johannes van Keulen II. It presents a series of coastal profiles depicting the eastern coasts of England and Scotland. Designed for practical use by sailors, the sheet provides detailed illustrations of coastal features as they would appear from the sea, allowing mariners to recognize key landmarks and navigate hazardous waters.
The sheet is systematically divided into panels, each featuring a segment of coastline with prominent natural and man-made landmarks, such as cliffs, churches, lighthouses, and windmills. Annotated in Dutch, the profiles include detailed bearings, distances, and references to geographic features, highlighting their practical use for mariners navigating the North Sea.
The chart highlights several notable locations along the eastern coast of England and Scotland, each significant for its geographic or maritime importance.
Orfordness: A prominent feature of the Suffolk coast, Orfordness is shown with its church and castle, critical landmarks for sailors navigating near the River Alde. The area was known for its treacherous shoals, and its depiction here emphasizes its role in aiding safe navigation.
Yarmouth (Great Yarmouth): Depicted with its iconic church spire and defensive structures, Yarmouth was a vital port town in Norfolk. Its strategic location and bustling harbor made it a key hub for trade and fishing, while the nearby sandbanks presented significant navigational challenges.
Dunwich: This once-thriving medieval port town, located on the Suffolk coast, is illustrated with its cliffs and the remnants of its churches. By the 18th century, much of Dunwich had succumbed to coastal erosion, but its remaining features were still important as navigational markers.
Lowestoft: Shown with its windmill and church, Lowestoft is the easternmost town in England. A significant fishing port, it was also a crucial point for sailors entering the North Sea. The lighthouse depicted on the sheet highlights its importance in marking dangerous nearby sandbanks.
Aberdeen: Representing the northern terminus of the chart, Aberdeen is shown with its old and new towns, including distinct church spires. As a major Scottish port, it played a critical role in trade and communication between Scotland and Europe. Its depiction underscores its significance for sailors continuing northward or returning south.
The sheet represents an important intersection of cartographic art, maritime science, and historical navigation. The depiction of key locations along the eastern coasts of England and Scotland provides a window into the challenges faced by sailors in the early modern period, while its artistic execution ensures its enduring significance as a historical document.
The Van Keulens were a family of chartmakers and publishers. The firm, In de Gekroonde Lootsman (In the Crowned Pilot), was founded in Amsterdam in 1678 by Johannes van Keulen (1654-1715). Van Keulen originally registered his business as a vendor of books and instruments (specifically cross-staffs). In 1680, however, he gained a privilege from the States of Holland and West Friesland for the publication of pilot guides and sea atlases.
In that year, van Keulen released his Zee-Atlas (Sea Atlas), which secured him a name in the competitive maritime publishing market. In 1681, he published the first volume of Nieuwe Lichtende Zee-Fakkel (New Shining Sea Torch). This would be the first of an eventual five volumes originally published between 1680 and 1684. A sixth volume was added in 1753. The Zee-Fakel won van Keulen lasting fame. The atlas had charts compiled by Claes Jansz Vooght and artwork from Jan Luyken. It proved immensely popular and was reprinted until 1783. There were translations in French, English, Spanish, and Italian.
The late-seventeenth century was an auspicious time to enter the maritime chart business. Previous industry leaders had either closed shop, died, or retired, leaving space for a new competitor. Van Keulen proceeded to buy up the stock and privileges of several maritime publishing firms; the most notable was the stock of Hendrik Doncker, acquired in 1693.
Johannes’ son, Gerard (1678-1726) took over the business upon his father’s death. Gerard was a skilled engraver and mathematician. His talents were noticed, as in 1706 he was named as Hydrographer to the Dutch East India Company (VOC).
In turn, Gerard’s son Johannes II (1704-1770) came to run the shop. He was also tied to the VOC, and his role as their chartmaker allowed his charts to be considered as quasi-official government documents. It is with access to formerly clandestine VOC geographic knowledge that Johannes the Younger was able to add a sixth volume to the Zee-Fakkel, which covered the East Indies. Johannes also continued to sell instruments, including the recently-invented Hadley’s Quadrant from 1744.
When Johannes II died in 1770, his widow ran the business in his stead, aided by her two sons, Cornelis Buys (1736-1778) and Gerard Hulst (1733-1801). Now a century old, the family business had extended to include an anchor factory. After Cornelis died in 1778, Gerard took on the management of the firm alone. He oversaw the introduction of sextants to their inventory and published the Dutch Nautical Almanac beginning in 1788. Annual editions appeared until 1885. Gerard also served as an original member of the Dutch Commission for Longitude at Sea from 1787.
Gerard’s widow ran the business for nine years after his death, when their son, Johannes Hulst, started to lead the firm in 1810. After his death in 1844, the firm passed out of family hands and into the control of Jacob Swert, a skilled cartographer who had worked for the business for two decades. He passed the work to his son, another Jacob, in 1866. By the mid-nineteenth century, the conversion from sail to steam had diminished the size of the market for charts. Fewer sailors needed fewer maps, charts, and instruments. In 1885, after 207 years in business, In de Gekroonde Lootsman closed its doors and auctioned its stock.
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