Hoeker (Hooker)

[Anatol]

The hoeker is a round-built three-master of Dutch origin from the seventeenth century . Fishing vessels that were not built like a hoeker but were used for hoeknet fishing have also been described as hoeker. In Zoetermeer, the so-called Hoekerkade, named after this fishing vessel, exists in a district where all street names end with 'kade' and refer to vessels.
From fishing to merchant shipping
Originally the hoeker was a fishing vessel, but it was also used for merchant shipping . The name hoeker probably arose in relation to the hoekwant — a form of sea fishing with baited hooks — with which the fishing vessel fished. In 1664 , the Dutch East India Company decided to include this ship in its fleet. The Chamber of Delft purchased four ships. The Rotterdam Chamber was the first to start building a series of hoekers in 1667. As early as 1670 , the hoekers disappeared again from the VOC's ship lists. These rounded three-masters were deployed in the Second Anglo-Dutch War after being equipped with cannons .
After the war, they sailed to the East, where they remained. Most hookers were 80 feet long, 20 feet wide, and had a draft of 11 feet. The hooker had a broad bow and stern. They had a mainmast and a mizzenmast with square sails. The larger hookers also had a foremast , like the slightly smaller "flûten" (flutes) . The mizzenmast sail was then replaced by a triangular Latin sail. After 1670, only occasionally were hookers built, such as in 1695. These were larger than the others: 90 feet and one inch long, 23 feet and six inches wide, and a draft of 11 feet and 10.5 inches.
Nederland 2025; 1,0.
Source: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoeker.