It took a little longer than expected, but the latest Kolderstok model is now almost ready to leave the yard: the 17th-century Fluytschip
The growth and prosperity of the republic of the Netherlands in the 17th century was set in motion mostly by the various trade relations that the Dutch had at the time. Salt and wine from the southern countries was traded against wood, grain and iron from the countries around the Baltic Sea. The wood was used for shipbuilding, the grain was stored to be sold at good profit in times of scarcity. An important link in this trade was the Fluytschip, or Flute in English. Long and spherical, with a flat bottom and narrow decks, it was exceptionally suitable for transporting large amounts of cargo. Additionaly, it handled shallow water well, and it could be sailed with a small crew. The Fluytschip was a common, if not the most common ship on the various seas around the Dutch republic.
The Kolderstok model of the Fluytschip is made in scale 1 to 72 and includes masts and hull approx. 60 cm long, 55 cm high and 25 cm wide. The hull itself is approx. 46 cm long and 11 cm wide. The specific convex shape and the way of planking with pre-cut linden trunks on narrow oak trusses give the package a difficulty of 4 on a scale of 4.
We are currently finalizing the kit, building description and drawings, and the model is expected to be available in first quarter of 2022.
