Dutch ship Rotterdam (1695)

History
Dutch Republic. [1]
Name	Rotterdam
Builder	Rotterdam Naval Yard
Launched	1695
Captured	By the French, 22 May 1703
Notes	Operated by the Admiralty of Rotterdam
France [2]
Name	Rotterdam
Acquired	22 May 1703
Decommissioned	1706
Notes	Operated by the Marine Royale
General characteristics when built in 1695
Class & type	fourth rate ship of the line
Tonnage	450 tons
Length	115 ft 1 in (35.1 m) (gundeck)
Beam	31 ft 7 in (9.6 m)
Depth of hold	11 ft 6 in (3.5 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	52 guns
General characteristics after capture in 1703
Class & type	40-gun ship of the line
Length	114 ft 3 in (34.8 m) (gundeck)
Beam	31 ft 6 in (9.6 m)
Depth of hold	11 ft 3 in (3.4 m)
Propulsion	Sails
Sail plan	Full-rigged ship
Armament	40 guns

Overview

Rotterdam was a 52-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Dutch States Navy, launched in 1695 by the Rotterdam Naval Yard ^[3] and operated by the Admiralty of Rotterdam until it was captured by the French Navy in 1703. It had a crew of around 110 men.

Capture by the French

On 22 May, the Rotterdam was escorting a convoy of around 110 English and Dutch merchant ships when they were intercepted by a French squadron led by Admiral Alain Emmanuel de Coëtlogon. The Dutch admiral Roemer Vlacq commanded his ships to turn and fight the French, allowing for the merchant ships to escape, but leading to the capture of all 5 escort ships, ^[4] including the Rotterdam by the Orgueilleux ^[5]

The Rotterdam was then taken by the French to Toulon where it was commissioned into the French navy as Rotterdam and its armament reduced to 40 guns. It continued to serve in the French Navy until being retired from service in 1706.

References

1. Harrison, Cy. "Dutch Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Rotterdam' (1695)". Three Decks. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
2. Harrison, Cy. "French Fourth Rate ship of the line 'Le Rotterdam' (1703)". Three Decks. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
3. Harrison, Cy. "Rotterdam Naval Yard". Three Decks. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
4. Harrison, Cy. "Cap de la Roque, 22nd May 1703". Three Decks. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
5. Harrison, Cy. "French Second Rate ship of the line 'L'Orgueilleux' (1691)". Three Decks. Retrieved 15 October 2025.