Home > Netherlands > Friesland > Dongeradeel Municipality > Nes > Moddergat Fishing Fleet Disaster Memorial

Moddergat Fishing Fleet Disaster Memorial

Memorials	:	0
Location	:	Nes, Dongeradeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate	:	53.4053922, 6.0762312
Description	:	The fishing fleet disaster of Moddergat and Paesens on March 6, 1883. The fishermen of Moddergat and a few of neighboring village Paesens on the north coast of Friesland had had a long winter, with no income and with little to eat left for themselves and their families. The spring was early that year and the continuing beautiful weather tempted especially the young fishermen to sail out again. They were anxious and impatient and didn’t want to sit home with such attractive weather any longer and to suffer lack of food. On Friday, March 2, the ships were retrieved from... Read More	The fishing fleet disaster of Moddergat and Paesens on March 6, 1883. The fishermen of Moddergat and a few of neighboring village Paesens on the north coast of Friesland had had a long winter, with no income and with little to eat left for themselves and their families. The spring was early that year and the continuing beautiful weather tempted especially the young fishermen to sail out again. They were anxious and impatient and didn’t want to sit home with such attractive weather any longer and to suffer lack of food. On Friday, March 2, the ships were retrieved from Oostmahorn where they always were lying in the harbor for the winter, because Paesens and Moddergat do not have their own port. That same day and the day after, everything they needed was brought to the ships by rowing boats, because the ships could not get close to the shore because of the shallow water. The fourth march was a Sunday when they went to church and shortly after midnight on 5 March 1883 the fishing fleet sailed out. The 22 ships set sail for the so called “Scholveld”, the rich fishing grounds northeast of the island of Borkum. Under an awakening north-westerly wind, the 5th of March the nets were dragged across the fishing grounds. Because the catch was disappointing, they kept on fishing until late in the evening, while a dark sky rose in the northwest. Shortly after ten o'clock that evening, the fishermen were overtaken by a sudden northwestern storm on their open, barely seaworthy sailing ships. Eyewitnesses on shore said that on the 5th of March a black sky came rolling low over the water, full of hail and snow. The North Sea became a swirling, furious monster within fifteen minutes, with waves that were whipped up to 20 meters high. An inky night followed. Their struggle to sail west and then through the gaps between the Wadden Islands to reach their home port, must have been incredibly difficult. In the early morning the wind increased more and more to a wind force of 9 to 10. 'De Twee Gebroeders' (W.L.7) was probabrly the first ship to fall prey to the raging waves. In the morning around 8 o'clock it capsized at the ‘Simonszand’ and disappeared into the ice-cold depth. The five-man crew died. Only the mortal remains of the 64-year-old Douwe Jelles Basteleur were recovered 5 days later, brought back to his birthplace Moddergat by the sea current. In the following hours, a catastrophe occurred that claimed almost the entire fishing fleet of Moddergat and Paesens. In total, 17 of the 22 ships sank or stranded. 82* fishermen died in the storm, most of them have never been recovered. Some families had lost all their male members in one fell swoop. * Not the 83 mentioned on the memorial stones. The 13-year-old Hille Botes Groen, who is mentioned as a crew member of the W.L. 8 "De Vier Gebroeders", was not on board. He died the day after the disaster, March 7, 1883, in his parental home.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Moddergat Fishing Fleet Disaster Memorial?
Moddergat Fishing Fleet Disaster Memorial is located at De Oere Nes, Dongeradeel Municipality ,Friesland , 9142Netherlands.
Moddergat Fishing Fleet Disaster Memorial cemetery's updated grave count on graveviews.com?
0 memorials
Where are the coordinates of the Moddergat Fishing Fleet Disaster Memorial?
Latitude: 53.4053922
Longitude: 6.0762312

Photos:

1 / 2

2 / 2

❮ ❯

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Nes Protestant Churchyard
Nes, Dongeradeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3962300, 6.0481500

2. St. Ceciliatsjerke
Oosternijkerk, Dongeradeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3788210, 6.0531531

3. Wierum Protestant Churchyard
Wierum, Dongeradeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.4021700, 6.0155300

4. Anjum Protestant Churchyard
Anjum, Dongeradeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3744900, 6.1246700

5. Kleastertsjerke Cemetery
Niawier, Dongeradeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3637650, 6.0499337

6. Sint-Vituskerk Churchyard
Wetzens, Dongeradeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3467450, 6.0345649

7. Begraafplaats Got Tjark
Schiermonnikoog, Schiermonnikoog Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.4790604, 6.1605749

8. Kerkhof Dorpskerk
Engwierum, Dongeradeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3203340, 6.1362935

9. Schiermonnikoog Vredenhof Cemetery
Schiermonnikoog, Schiermonnikoog Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.4859600, 6.1857400

10. Driesum Protestant Churchyard
Driezum, Dantumadeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.2977400, 6.0460900

11. Raard Protestant Churchyard
Raard, Dongeradeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3254600, 5.9444900

12. Holwerd Protestant Churchyard
Holwerd, Dongeradeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3710500, 5.8972200

13. Rêsthôf Driezum
Driezum, Dantumadeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.2948039, 6.0418101

14. Westergeest Protestant Churchyard
Westergeest, Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.2902000, 6.0856800

15. Kloosterkapel begraafplaats
Sibrandahûs, Dantumadeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3111878, 5.9425346

16. Petruskerkhof
Lichtaard, Ferwerderadiel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3263379, 5.9135862

17. Damwoude General Cemetery
Damwâld, Dantumadeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.2857700, 5.9996900

18. Akkerwoude Protestant Churchyard
Akkerwoude, Dantumadeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.2909300, 5.9779800

19. Begraafplaats Nijenhof
Oudwoude, Kollumerland en Nieuwkruisland Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.2760214, 6.1267219

20. Kerkhof Alexanderkerk Rinsumageest
Rinsumageest, Dantumadeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.2959488, 5.9429579

21. Vierhuizen Begraafplaats
Vierhuizen, De Marne Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3603100, 6.2934400

22. Tsjerkhôf Jannum
Jannum, Ferwerderadiel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3126308, 5.9027619

23. Rêsthôf Broeksterwâld
Broeksterwoude, Dantumadeel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.2758766, 5.9907295

24. Blija Protestant Churchyard
Blija, Ferwerderadiel Municipality, Netherlands
Coordinate: 53.3511734, 5.8606162

Moddergat Fishing Fleet Disaster Memorial

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Photos:

Memorials:

Nearby Cemetories: