Jacob van der Windt facts for kids
Jacob van der Windt (born September 15, 1745 – died October 15, 1792) was an important sailor from Vlaardingen, a town in the Netherlands. His name was sometimes spelled van der Wint. He was the captain of a special fishing ship called a "herring buss." His ship was named "De Roode Roos" (The Red Rose). It was owned by a ship owner named Assendelft de Coningh.
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Jacob's Brave Warning
Jacob van der Windt became famous for a very brave act during a war. This war was called the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War (1780–1784). It was a fight between the Netherlands and England.
A Dangerous Mission
On December 29, 1780, Jacob sailed from Brielle. His mission was very important and dangerous. He needed to warn the Dutch fishing fleet. This fleet was made up of many ships from Vlaardingen and Maassluis. There were 82 ships from Vlaardingen and 63 from Maassluis. They were all fishing far out at sea, near a place called the Dogger Bank.
Saving the Fleet
Jacob's job was to tell them about the war. He had to tell them to come back to safety. Thanks to his quick warning, only a few of the fishing ships were attacked by the English. Almost the entire fleet returned home safely. This saved many ships and the lives of many sailors.
Honored for His Courage
Jacob van der Windt returned to Vlaardingen on January 11, 1781. He was seen as a hero.
Special Gifts
To honor him, Jacob received two special gifts. He was given a silver medal and a beautiful glass goblet. Both the medal and the goblet showed a picture of Jacob's ship, "De Roode Roos".
The Goblet's Message
You can see the glass goblet today at the Museum Vlaardingen. It has a special message carved into it. The message tells the story of his brave journey. It says:
"1780 den 29 Dec van Vlaarding uitgezeilt om onse vloot van den oorlog kennis te geven op te ontbieden behoude binne gekomen den xi Jan 1781"
This means: "On December 29, 1780, sailed from Vlaardingen to tell our fleet about the war and to call them back, safely returned on January 11, 1781."
Jacob van der Windt's story shows how one person's bravery can make a huge difference.
