In January 1421 a small fleet of Dutch ships arrived in London. And did they bring the eels? Oh yeah. One ship, belonging to Gerbrand Heykysson, unloaded 400 large eels, 2,700 medium eels, 23,00 small eels, & 6 barrels of salted eels. Also a small sack of feathers. 🗃️🧪 - ThreadSky

greenleejw.bsky.social • 62 days ago

In January 1421 a small fleet of Dutch ships arrived in London. And did they bring the eels? Oh yeah.

One ship, belonging to Gerbrand Heykysson, unloaded 400 large eels, 2,700 medium eels, 23,00 small eels, & 6 barrels of salted eels.

Also a small sack of feathers.
🗃️🧪

Comments

jaydeekay.bsky.social•62 days ago

That is a lot of Eels! And how did they repay such eelusive kindness? They later stole New Holland, Australia and New Zealand from the Dutch.

jaydeekay.bsky.social•62 days ago

Those Britishers are slippery as eels! LOL

sfkissinger.bsky.social•62 days ago

The sun never sets on the British Empire because even God doesn't trust them in the dark.

jaydeekay.bsky.social•62 days ago

Well these days the sun ALWAYS sets on the British Empire because it is defunct and the modern UK is no longer a global power.

jonocarpenter.bsky.social•62 days ago

I think the Dutch would have had to actually get off the boat to lay any claim to AoNZ. Doesn't count if you just sail past and got scared off by the giants.

sachadylan.bsky.social•62 days ago

Yet they got to name us 🤷

kitncaboodle.bsky.social•62 days ago

I have questions..

greenleejw.bsky.social•62 days ago

I have some, but not always good or right, answers

dupan.bsky.social•57 days ago

The old days of the eel barges are still experienced today. An exact replica of the Frisian eel barge from 1872, the Korneliske Ykes II, was launched in 2009 and regularly sails to London, docking at the historic Dutch moorings on the River Thames: https://www.palingaak.nl

greenleejw.bsky.social•57 days ago

Ahhh...the eel ships. The history of the dutch eel ships in London made up a big part of my doctoral dissertation. Just really fascinating.

The Korneliske Ykes II has only made one trip to London to this point -- back in 2019, I think. I believe they are making another trip this year, though.

dupan.bsky.social•51 days ago

They went twice last year in July and November (see website "reizen") and they are planning to go this year as well.