Listen | Claes Compaen
Besides the whaling mentioned earlier, there were more ways to earn your money at sea in the Golden Age. With trade, for example.
But the most lucrative way was privateering. With a privateer's letter on board, issued by the government, a ship had the right to attack and loot enemy ships. Legitimised piracy under the guise of economic warfare.
In practice, the big money went to the high bosses and the crew did not keep much. Claes Compaen disagreed. He bought a ship with 17 guns and room for 80 men, called the Walte. And instead of keeping everything for himself, he simply divided the booty among the crew. At first it was mostly Spanish ships that Compaen looted but later he also robbed ships from other countries and even Dutch ones. Thus, he looted himself treasure in four years, because there was no one who could stand up to his loyal crew.
After ...
But the most lucrative way was privateering. With a privateer's letter on board, issued by the government, a ship had the right to attack and loot enemy ships. Legitimised piracy under the guise of economic warfare.
In practice, the big money went to the high bosses and the crew did not keep much. Claes Compaen disagreed. He bought a ship with 17 guns and room for 80 men, called the Walte. And instead of keeping everything for himself, he simply divided the booty among the crew. At first it was mostly Spanish ships that Compaen looted but later he also robbed ships from other countries and even Dutch ones. This way, he robbed himself wealthy in four years, because there was no one who could compete with his loyal crew.
After those four years, he did want to return to his wife and children in Oostzaan. But because he had also robbed Dutch people, he would be arrested immediately. Nevertheless, he was granted a pardon by the States General if he promised never to rob again. After all, they were long happy if he would stop. After he had done so, he lived quietly in Oostzaan until his death.
Legend has it that Claes Compaen buried his immense amount of loot somewhere in Oostzaan. Today, people are still looking for this treasure. At the next point in this route, we will tell you about a famous resident who did move out of Oostzaan.
