Black Walloon gaff boat (Zwartewaalse gaffelaar)

[Anatol]

Zwartewaal is a village in the Dutch province of South Holland, The Netherlands. It is a part of the municipality of Voorne aan Zee and lies about 5 km south of Maassluis. The village was first mentioned in the middle of the 13th century as "ten Zwarten Wale", and means "black (water) pond created after a dike breech". Zwartewaal is dike village which developed after 1180 when the Zwartewaal polder was created. A fishing harbour was constructed outside the dike. Situated on the banks of the Meuse River, Zwartewaal developed a thriving fishing community. As early as the Middle Ages, ships sailed from this village to the rich fishing grounds near Iceland, and records show that fishermen sold their catch in London, among other places. The hard work sometimes resulted in heavy losses. Over the centuries, several Gaffelaars (fishing vessels) sank in storms, leaving families fatherless and without income.
The vessels used by fishermen were called Black Walloon Gaffelboats (Zwartewaalse gaffelaar). The gaffelaar, or gaff barge (Gaffelaer, Gaffelschuyt), is the predecessor of the tjak and had much in common with Frisian eel barges. They were round, heavy, and had a large sheer. It was a gaff-rigged vessel for inland waters with a standing gaff sail. The hull was rounded with a strong sheer peak. Hatches were on the deck behind the mast. The tiller extended below the deep topstay. A jib was also installed on the jibboom, a staysail, and a topsail on the topmast. The Zwartewaalse gaffelaar was used primarily for fishing with angle nets or longlines. The sails were first set with a sprit or smack sail , later this became a standing gaff rig as mainsail, and further a staysail , jib and chaser ; only a small mizzen was carried on the aftermast .
Zwartewaal is famous for the Battle of Zwartewaal, which took place on July 5, 1351, in which William I, Duke of Bavaria, defeated his mother and became Count of Holland. Mother and son made peace in 1354. The stamp design was created based on an engraving by Gerrit Groenewegen.
Nederlande 2025; 1,0. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwartewaal; https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaffelaar.