THE LINSCHOTEN SOCIETY

By E.S. van Eyk van Heslinga

The aim of the Linschoten Society, founded in 1908, is the publication of rare
or unpublished Dutch travel accounts of voyages, journeys by land, and
descriptions of countries. During its eight decades this has resulted in a
fascinating series of no less than 92 volumes, which immediately catch the eye
of the conoinsseur with their blue linen covers and gold lettering. The
contents of the volumes are characterized by a thorough introduction, the
detailed annotations, the illustrations, and the maps. Many famous travellers
are represented in their pages.

ITINERARIO
First and foremost is Jan Huygen van Linschoten himself. At the age of sixteen
Van Linschoten left Enkhuizen to serve many years with the Portuguese before
returning in 1592. He described his experiences in a number of books,
including the famous Itinerario, which was immediately translated and passed
through a great many editions. This book not only opened the way to the East
Indies for the Dutch, but it also served as the model for scores of later
travel accounts. Many of which have been published by the Linschoten Society.

BONTEKOE
Worthy of note among the first voyages the Dutch fleets to the Indies, the
circumnavigation of the world by Joris van Spilbergen, the journey of Henry
Hudson to the source of the river which bears his name, the voyages of Able
Tasman to the unknown Southland and of Jacob Roggeveen to the Pacific Ocean
Among the sixteenth century books which enjoyed enourmous popularity were the
description of the voyage Skipper Bontekoe who was blown to smithereens with
his ship in 1618, that the ship's doctor Nicholaas Graaff which included
descriptions of the sixteen voyages which he made during his long career at
sea.

EMBASSIES
The Linscnoten Society has also published a number of royal embassies,
including that to the Great Moghul in Central India, and descriptions of
Cambodia, Laos, and Korea. These texts are still regarded as valuable early
sources about these regions. The same can be said of the voyages to the West
Coast of Africa and journeys into the interior of southern Africa.
The Linschoten Society by no means confines itself either to the period or the
chartered territories of the East and West India Companies. Among the works
there are journeys to Sweden, Russia, and Algeria and to the polar regions.
The first steam crossing of the Atlantic in 1827 is represented, as are the
scientific expeditions by Willem Barents to the northern ice sea in 1878.

SCIENTIFIC IMPORTANCE
In the volumes of the Linschoten Society the texts are published in the
original language and where necessary this is elucidated in footnotes. The
scientific importance of the volumes is undeniable, but for the ordinary
person interested in such matters they also form an attractive acquisition.
This has been proved by the reprints which have been required for various
volumes, such as the journey of Bontekoe or of the unhappy voyage of the
Eastindiaman, the Batavia, a journey fraught with mutiny, shipwreck, murder
and bloodshed. The latter volume, published in 1993, was sold out within  half
a year. The Society is very much alive and can look forward to an increasing
interest on the part of historians, students of Dutch, and anybody who thrills
to historic journeys.

VERHAEGEN, HAAFNER AND WOMEN
In the middle of 1994, as volume 93 in the series, the travel account of the
Flemish clerk Carolus Verhaegen will be published. In 1699, this adventurer
signed onto a East India Company ship on which he sailed to Batavia as a
soldier. His unruly behaviour made it impossible for him to settle down there.
He deserted to Manila; although he carved out a good position for himself
there, he fled once more. He never reached his destination, Canton. Instead
he landed up in Japan, from where he returned to Batavia via Deshima. The
Linschoten Society has a great many other travel accounts on its programme.
One large-scale project is the collected works of the Dutch traveller and
novelist Jacob Haafner, one volume which already appeared. Also on the
programme is the publication of two eighteenth century journals which were
kept by women on their voyage to the East Indies. This is a rareity, because
most of the older travel accounts are the work of male travellers.
   Both on account of the reputation established during the eight decades of
its existence and because of its meticulous editions, the Linschoten Society
occupies a unique position in the Netherlands. Abroad its only peer is the
Hakluyt Society of London. Members receive a considerable reduction on
volumes. They are sent a newsletter and after the conclusion of the Annual
General Meeting they can enjoy a lecture or take part in an excursion.

For further information please contact the secretary: 
Dr E.S. van Eyck van Heslinga
c/o Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdam
Kattenburgplein 1
1018 KK Amsterdam
Tel: (31) 205232339
Fax: (31) 205232213