Beek van, Cornelis.

Cornelis van Beek was born on 10 May 1889 at Hellevoetsluis as the son of Hendrik van Beek and Adriaantje Beekman. He was father was at that moment training for pilot and later became a sea pilot.TheY had been married since 21 July 1882. The father of the bride was registered as a skipper. Hence there was a lot of salt blood in the family. There were quite a few siblings:

Oldest sister Adriana (1883), 2nd.  sister Lena (1885), 3^rd sister Neeltje (1887), then Cornelis (1889). Followed by Maria Jacoba (1891), Adriana Hendrika (1894), Jacob (1897) and Tona (1899)

It is not known which Maritime school or academy he attended but he is accepted as cadet with Holland America on 15 July 1907 and asssigned to the ss Potsdam. A cadet needs 365 days of sailing to be able to sit for the 3rd mates exam and Van Beek only did 5 months with HAL so it means that the changed company’s halfway through his cadet year. He then passes his 3rd Mates exam on 14 May 1908,

He returns to HAL and is assigned to the ss Nieuw Amsterdam (I) sailing on the North Atlantic service between Rotterdam and New York. Then in the following years he sails on a mixture of cargo and passengerships.

On 21 October 1912 he marries at Maasluis (west of Rotterdam), Tona Suzanna van Neuren (born 23 Aug. 1891 at Hellevoetlsuis) and daughter of Geerit van Neuren (sea pilot) and Johanna Cornelia Kegge. As far as is known there was one daughter Johanna Cornelia born in 1918 (b)

ED: This is all we know about his personal life. So if there is any family or relatives out there with additional information of anecdotes, then please contact me on Captalbert1@aol.com.

In March 1915 he is promoted to Chief Officer / First Mate on the  cargo ship ss Eemdijk (I), which had come into service on 18 March after having been taken over from a Greek Company. After one voyage to New York, he made a roundtrip to Buenos Aires and other South america ports.  Homewardbound on this trip, the ship anchored at Deal outside London on 18 September for the required contraband inspection and was released on the 20th. The ship departed on the 22nd. and while on the way to Rotterdam, the ship hits two sea mines and sinks shorlty after. He and the rest of the crew survives and is tken on board a Swedish ship and landed in Great Yarmouth on the East England coast. After interrogation by the British Authorites, they are all released and reach home with th ferry from Tilbury to Vlissingen / Flushing on 28 September.

Chief Officer Van Beek is send on leave until October 1915 and then joins the cargoship ss Waaldijk. This is followed on 19 Jul 1916 with an assignment to the ss Zaandijk (I).

This ship was involved in the service from Rotterdam to ports on the East coast of the USA to carry as much grain to the Netherlands as possible. On the return on his fifth voyage with the ship he is torpedoed on 22 February 1917 after leaving Falmouth. The ship was sailing with a Dutch (un-escorted) convoy as the Netherlands was neutral, and 7 Dutch ships were torpedoed at the same time including the ss Noorderdijk (I). As the U boat commander of the U 21 gives sufficient notice, al on board are saved. The crews rows their lifeboats to St Mary in the Scilly’s Islands. Lateron they return in small groups via HAL ships from England to Rotterdam. Our Chief Officer arrives home on 02 May 1917 with the ss Sommelsdijk (II). As the Netherlands was neutral during WWI, the torpedoing of the ship was a war crime and the company was later compensated with a German ship which was renamed ss Zaandijk (II)

Van Beek now stays ashore until1919,as most of the HAL ships are laid up in Rotterdam or have been interred in USA ports. On 03 March 1919 he is assigned as Chief Officer of the ss Waaldijk and on 25 March 1920 promoted to Acting captain until 07 June. The ss Waaldijk was in service on the Britisch Indies Line of the company from New york to the Dutch East Indies, first via Cape Town and later via Suez.

Then it is back to Chief Officer but as he had been captain, it automatically meant he was now a Sr. Chief officer in the fleet and thus sailed on the most senior passenger ships. Then  promotion came again on 12 March 1924 with the appointment to the ss Burgerdijk.  On 07 nov. 1925 that promotion became permanent when he went back to the ss Waaldyk.

On 2 November 1927, on the way back from South America just before arriving in Rotterdam, Captain and crew save the lives of crew of the frensch sailing vessel “Gabi” while in the English channel. During very bad weather that ship had lost all steering capacity and was floundering. A boat was lowered with 7 crew and they managed to get all the french crew off. Nearly escaping death themselves as the ships mast came crashing down the moment they came along side the Gabi. Op 27 March 1928, while the Waaldijk was in Rotterdam,  the seven crew and the captain, were recognized for their heroic efforts by means of a medal and scroll, presented by the French Consul.

On 27 November 1927 the Waaldijk is involved in a collision with the ss Eemland on departure for a voyage to South America. Both ships are damaged and the Waaldijk has to go to dry dock for bow repairs delaying the voyage by 3 weeks. The Board of Inquiry later acquits all captains involved as with at least 4 ships hindering each other, it was impossible to put the blame somewhere.

The next medal he received was the recognition for his efforts in maintaining weather logs, so on 14 January 1930 he receives the Silver medal of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Society (KNMI)

In 1938 the regular assignments start to the smaller passenger ships with the ss Maasdam and ms Dinteldyk (12 passengers). The latter sailing on the Vancouver service through the Panama Canal. While in command of the ss Dinteldyk he is in Rotterdam when the war breaks out and he can not get his ship out anymore. He thus is stuck in the Netherlands for 5 years under German occupation. His ship is hit by incendary bombs during the bombing of the center of Rotterdam and partly burns out. The hull is later used as a blockade vessel in the New Waterway to prevent an Allied invasion through the port. After being raised the remainders are scrapped in 1946

As soon as the war was over (10 May 1945) and the HAL ships returned one by one to rotterdam, he was back to sea again to relieve the crews who have been away for 5 long years. First assignment was a Dutch Governmentship which was in managed by the company, the ss Philips Wouwerman . This was a Britsh built “Empire Class” cargo ship of 7000 tons with one single Doxford Diesel engine. The Captain made one voyage on her to Montreal, and then, after 9 months on the ms Delftdyk (service to Vancouver) was assigned to the passengerships.

First to the ms Noordam, then followed by the ss Volendam and ss Veendam. Then in March 1948 he is appointed to the flag ship of the fleet the ss Nieuw Amsterdam II, sailing from Rotterdam via LeHavre and Southampton to New York. On 11 December 1948 he is promoted to Commodore.

After turning 60, all  deep sea sailors have to officially retire and so was the case with Captain Cornelis van Beek. However he was requested to return due to shortage of captains as the fleet was rapidly expanding with the arrival of the 10 A class cargo ships. This also helped with the pension situation as ,with the fund only having been established in 1933, the pay outs were not that high for those who had only been enrolled for a few years. Hence he was doing fill-ins (sometimes for several months) between 1950 and 1955.

The ship he served the longest on was the ss Eemdyk (III) involved in voyages to the Gulf of Mexico. In 1955, he was 66 years old and that was supposed to be the end of his sailing career. However he was called back one more time, when he was 73, not as captain but as Owners Representative to be on board the new cargo ship ms Grotedyk which made its trial trip on 07 August 1962.

AND HERE THE STORY STOPS AS NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AS OF NOW

Sailing List: (c)

Date:                    Function:                            Ship:                     Wages and/or                                                                                                                               remarks.

15 Jul.    1907      Cadet                                  Potsdam                             15,–

11 Jan.  1908      Temporary dismissed to go to school. Passed for 3^rd Mate’s license on 14 May 1908

15 May. 1908     4^th. Officer                         Nieuw Amsterdam       30,–

08 Oct.  1908      4^th.Officer                          Sloterdijk                            30,–

24 Mar. 1909      3^rd. Officer                         Sloterdijk                            30,–

27 Oct.  1909      3^rd. Officer                         Noordam                            50,–

04 Jul.    1910      3^rd. Officer                         Zaandijk                              50,–

22 Dec. 1910      Temporary dismissed to go to school. Passed for 2^nd Mates license on 16 Mar. 1911

01 Jan. 1911       Due to restructuring wages                                         75,–

21 Mar.1911      3^rd Officer                           Sloterdijk                               75,–

08 Aug. 1911      3^rd Officer                           Maartensdijk                     80,–

27 Sep.1911        Temporary dismissed waiting for position

08 Oct.  1911      Promoted to 2^nd Officer                                               100,–

08 Oct. 1911       2^nd Officer                          Potsdam                                100,–

05 Sep.  1912      2^nd Officer                          Soestdijk                                100,-

13 Dec. 1912      2^nd Officer                          Rotterdam                             100,-

04 Apr.  1913      Wages increased                                                                   110,-

13 May.1913      2^nd Officer                          Potsdam                                    110,–

07 Oct.  1913      2^nd.Officer                          Andijk                                         110,–

29 Dec. 1913      Temporary ashore awaiting transfer to ss Noordam.

05 Jan.  1914      2^nd Officer                          Noordam                                   110,–

20 Mar. 1914      Temporary dismissed to go to school passed for Chief’s Mate ticket on 10 June 1914

24 Jun.  1914      Wages increased                                                                     150,–

12 Mar. 1915      Chief Officer                      Eemdijk                                      150,–

Ss Eemdijk sunk on 23 Sept. at 03.30 in the morning on location: 55o47N – 3o50E.

Per ss Framnaes to Yarmouth and from there on 28 sept per ss Mecklenburg to Flushing. Arrived on  28/9 in Rotterdam

18 Oct. 1915       Wages increased to                                                               160,–

18 Oct. 1915       First Officer                        Potsdam                                   160,–

21 Oct.  1915      Chief Officer                      Waaldijk                                    160,–

23 Jun. 1916       Wages increased                                                                     175,–

19 Jul. 1916         First Officer                        Zaandijk                                    175,–

05 Dec. 1916      Wages increased                                                                     190,–

Ss Zaandijk on 22 Feb. 1917around 0628 , while approx. 27 miles west of Bishops Rock  torpedoed by a

German submarine.  Taken on board of the Naval patrol trawler  ”White Tides” and on  24 Feb. arrived at Penzance. On 2 May 1917 arrived home in Rotterdam with the ss Sommelsdijk.

30 May.1917      mobilized and assigned to the army as a sailor.

18 Nov.1918        First Officer                        Rotterdam                         190,-      (for the books, remains ashore)

03 Mar.1919       First Officer                        Waaldijk                             200,–

01 Jul.    1919      Wages increased                                                           290,–

18 Jan.  1920      Wages increased                                                           320,–

25 Mar. 1920      Act. Captain                       Waaldijk                             600,–    until       7 June

07 Jun. 1920       Chief Officer                      Rotterdam                         320,–    working as 2^nd officer

21 Jun. 1920       Temporary s shore for leave                                       320,–    (on wages and per diem)

27 Jul. 1920         Chief Officer                      Noorderdijk                       320,–

Wages increased                                                           340,–    Per 1 Jan. 1920

15 Oct. 1920       Wages increased                                                           360,–

22 Aug. 1920      Chief Officer                      Rijndam                              360,–

01 Sep.  1921      Wages decreased                                                          344,–

16 Oct.  1921      Wages decreased                                                          328,–

24 Mar. 1922      Wages increased                                                           350,–

20 Sep.  1922      Temporary ashore

13 Nov. 1922      First Officer                        Nieuw Amsterdam           350,–

02 Jan.  1923      First Officer                        Volendam                         350,–

12 Mar. 1924      Act. Captain                       Burgerdijk                           560,–

16 May. 1924     Act. Captain                       Zijldijk                                  560,–

02 May. 1925     Act. Captain                       Blijdendijk                           560,–

30 Jun. 1925       Chief Officer                      Veendam                            380,–

01 Jul. 1925         Act. Captain                       Hoogkerk                           625,–

Assigned for filling in at VNS but did not sail, position taken by Capt. Burger.

30 Jul. 1925         Temporary ashore

18 Sep. 1925       Act. Captain                       Binnendijk                          560,–

07 Nov.1925       Captain                              Waaldijk                             560,–

01 Apr.  1927      Captain                              Waaldjik                             580,–                   wage increase

27 Jul.    1927      Captain                               ashore                                 580,–                   on leave

08 Aug. 1927      Captain                              Waaldijk                             580,–                   At Amsterdam

29 Jul.    1928      Captain                               ashore                                 580,–

08 Aug. 1928      Captain                               Waaldijk                             580,–

01 Jan.  1929      Captain                               Waaldijk                             600,–                   Wage increase

13 Mar. 1929      Temporary ashore                                                         600,–

02 Apr.1929        Captain                               Bilderdijk                            600,–

14 Aug. 1929      Captain                               Westerdijk                          600,–

29 Apr.  1930      Temporary ashore                                                         600,–

Silver meteo medal 14 Jan. 1930

01 Jun.  1930      Wage increase                                                               620,–    sailed during the last 3 years 2 years and  4 ½ months

09 Nov. 1930     Captain                               Statendam                         600,–    As passenger heading to the Indies.

22 Nov. 1930      Captain                               Beemsterdijk                     600,–    At New York.

05 Jun.  1931      Captain                               ashore                                 620,–

03 Jul.    1931      Captain                               Grootendijk                        620,–

04 Oct.  1931      Temporary ashore                                                         620,–

12 Nov. 1931      Wages decreased                                                          496,–    and placed on standby on 70%

16 Dec. 1931      Captain                               Blommersdijk                    496,–

08 Apr.  1932      Captain                               Breedijk                              496,–

01 Nov. 1932      Wages decreased                                                          446,–

24 Mar. 1932      Captain                               Maasdam                           446,–

28 Jun.  1933      wages decreased with 5% acc. to Memo 929 date 27 June 1933

27 Jul.    1933      Captain                               Bilderdijk                            446,–

20 Oct.  1933      Temporary ashore                                                         446,–    regular leave.

15 Nov. 1933      Captain                               Blommersdijk                    446,–

28 Dec. 1933      Wages decreased to                                                     401,40

See Memo 929 dated 27 June 1933

09 Jan.  1934      Temporary ashore                                                         401.40   cancelled

11 Jan. 1934       Temporary ashore at 70%                                           401,40   cancelled

18 May. 1934     Temporary ashore at 70%                                           401,40

02 Jun. 1934       Captain                               Breedijk                              401.40

27 Jul.    1934      Temporary ashore                                                         401,40   regular leave.

17 Aug. 1931      Temporary ashore 70%                                                401,40

29 Aug. 1934      Captain                               Binnendijk                          401.40

01 Oct.  1934      Wages decreased                                                          385,50

17 Dec. 1934      Captain                               Bilderdijk                            385,50

15 May.1935      Captain                               Burgerdijk                           385,50

On 3 Jan. 1936 coming from the office of the agents and on the way home to the ship,

Fell while getting on the bus in the Leadenhall street and broke the disk of his knee.

Taken into the London hospital at Whitechapel street London. And from

04 Feb.  1936      Temporary ashore in London                                      385,50

Comes home with the Damsterdijk 7 March from London and 8 March in Rotterdam.

08 Mar. 1936      Temporary ashore                                                         385,50

15 Apr. 1936       Captain                   Boschdijk                                        385,50

01 Oct.  1937      According to new arrangements                                430,–

10 Sep. 1938       Captain                   Maasdam

12 Nov. 1938     Captain                   Dinteldijk

Arrived on 07 May 1940 in Rotterdam and was supposed to leave again in due course, but the ship burns out due to Bombardments while fighting in the port.

1940 – 1945     In the Netherlands under occupation.

27 Jul. 1945        Captain               Philip Wouwerman

27 Sep. 1945      Captain                Delftdijk

02 Nov. 1946     Captain                 Noordam

20 Jul. 1947        Captain               Volendam

05 Mar. 1948     Captain               Veendam

Appointed Commodore November 1948.

11 Dec.1948       Captain           Nieuw Amsterdam    Until June 1949

Should have retired when turning 60 years of age, as this was he compulsory retirement date. Was requested to return due to shortage of captains as the fleet was rapidly expanding with the arrival of the A class.

15 Jun. 1950       Captain               Edam                  Until 31 Dec. 1951

09 Mar. 1951      Captain               Eemdyk              Until 23 Dec. 1951

02 Jan. 1952      Captain                Ryndam             Until 03 Feb. 1952

26 Mar. 1952      Captain               Eemdyk              Until 04 Apr. 1952 Coastal Relieve voyage

26 Sep. 1952       Captain              Eemdyk               Until 03 Sep. 1954

28 Feb. 1955       Captain              Sloterdyk           (End Date unknown)

01 Aug. 1962      Captain               Grotedyk           Until 07 Aug. 1962 Owners representative trial trip

Sources:

(a) Capt. albert Schoonderbeeks photo archive

(b) E.H.  Kruidhof (family information)

(c) “Stamboek” sailing periods HAL Archives as held by the Municple Archives of the City of Rotterdam.

Last updated: 25 April 2025.