Drost, Gerrit Jan.

Gerrit Jan Drost was born on 10 January 1898 at Haagwoud (also mentioned as Aartswoud) He was the son of Klaas Cornelis Drost (1864 – 1908), who was a supervisor draughtsman and worked for the provincial Government for the department of Waterworks (Provinciale Waterstaat ). His mothers name was Trijntje Wijdenes (1873 – 1959)

He entered  the “Kweekschool voor de Zeevaart” in Amsterdam on 17 September 1913. By this time his father had passed away and thus the articles of acceptance were signed by the mother. As witness was present an uncle, acting as guardian, Jan Drost, who was as well a supervisor of the Department of Waterworks.

He joined the 2 year course, which indicated that he had in his previous education a certain amount of Mathematics and Physics.  His  passed out as nbr 20 of 57 with good marks for Dutch language, geography and weaponry. (c)

He then joined Holland America and was placed as cadet on 21 July 1915 and was placed on board the ss Amsteldijk, a cargoship sailing from Rotterdam to North America. He returned to schopl on 29 August 1916 with a very good sailing attest. On 20 Oct. 1916 he passed his exam for 3rd. officer.

He returned to HAL  and was assigned to the passengership Nieuw Amsterdam (I) on 30th. October 1916, sailing for 4 months on the North Atlantic between Rotterdam and New York.

TBA

On 13 July 1921 he was giving study leave for his First Mates (Dutch Captains ticket) and married on 21 July 1921 at Rotterdam, Pieternella Halk (19 Dec. 1897 – 14 Sep. 1979, daughter of Dirk Halk, blacksmith, and Jacoba Heijstek)  Eventually there were  three children.  A daughter, Tiny (22 April 1922 – 1951) and two sons.  Gerrit Jan (born 09 Feb. 1924) and Koos (born 08 Feb. 1933) . (a)

On 12 October 1921 he passed the exam for First Mate / Captain.

By 1940 he was living with his famaly at 54 Ribeclaan Schiebroek.

On 10 May 1940 he left the country as Chief Officer with the ms Delftdyk, the last HAL ship to escape from Rotterdam when the invasion started.

TBA

He was appointed captain (on loan from HAL) of the Dutch Government owned cargo ship, ss Nicholas Maas, but could not take command as the ship was torpedoed while still owned by the British.

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He passed away on 8 November 1893 at Rotterdam at the age of 85 years of age.

Captain Gerrit J Drost has the peculiar distinction that he left the Netherlands at the start of World war II on the last ship out (Delftdyk) as chief officer and brought as the captain the first HAL ship (Fort Orange) back into Dutch waters after the end of WWII.

Note: there was another HAL officer with a similar name, Jan Gerrit Drost (born Opperdoes 12 Aug. 1895) He was 2nd officer with HAL until 1921 and then took a job ashore but passed away in August 1927. It is unknown if they were related.

Sailing List: (b,c)

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

21 Jul.    1915      Cadet Officer                     Amsteldijk                          20,–

30 Aug. 1916      Temporary dismissed to go to school for 3^rd mates ticket

30 Oct. 1916       Passed exam for 3^rd mate

30 Oct. 1916       4^th. Officer                         Nieuw Amsterdam           30,–

14 Feb. 1917       4^th. Officer                         Ijseldijk                                    30,–

01 Jul.    1917      Wage increase                                                                       40,–

01 Jan. 1918      Wage increase                                                                         50,–

01 Oct. 1918       3^rd Officer                           Ijseldijk                                    60,–

21 Mar. 1919      Arrives home in Rotterdam and put on standby money.                                                                    Temporary dismissed to go to school for 2^nd mates license.

02 Jul. 1919         Passed exam for 2^nd mate

03 Jul. 1919         3rd Officer                         Rotterdam                         60,–                     Administration

02 Sep. 1919      3^rd. Officer                         Gorredijk                            125,–

07 Feb.  1920      Temporary ashore. Scheduled for the Indies run.

15 Feb. 1920       3^rd. Officer                         Schiedijk                             125,–                   Temp. assignment

20 Mar. 1920      Ashore scheduled for the ss Sommelsdijk (per Mongolia)

20 Mar. 1920      3^rd Officer                           Sommelsdijk                      125,–

01 Jan. 1920       Wage increase to                                                                 130,–

20 Apr. 1920       Act. 2^nd Officer                   Sommelsdijk                      200,–

01 Jan. 1920       Wage increase                                                                       175,–

15 Oct. 1920       Wage increase                                                                       180,–

01 Jan. 1921       2^nd Officer                          Sommelsdijk                         240,–

14 Jun. 1921       Returned with the ss Nieuw Amsterdam.

15 Jun. 1921       2^nd Officer                          Waaldijk                                 240,– On leave with wages and board money

2 Jul. 1921           2^nd Offcier                          Maartensdijk                        240,–

13 Jul. 1921         Temporary ashore to go to school for 1 st mates ticket

01 Sep. 1921       Wage reduced                                                                        228,–

12 Oct. 1921       Passed exam for first mates ticket.

13 Oct. 1921       Temporary ashore

16 Oct. 1921       Wage decrease                                                                        216,–

07 Nov. 1921      2^nd Officer                          Soestdijk                                   216,–

14 Mar. 1922      2^nd Officer                          Stadsdijk                                  216,–

16 Mar. 1922      Wage decrease                                                                      210,–

27 Apr. 1922       2^nd Officer                          Blommersdijk                      210,–

21 Jun.  1922      2^nd Officer                          Blijdendijk                              210,–

12 May. 1923     2^nd Officer                          Zijldijk                                        210,–

29 May. 1923     2^nd Officer                          Beemsterdijk                          210,–

28 Apr. 1924       2^nd Officer                          Gaasterdijk                              210,–

02 Jan. 1925       2^nd Officer                          Blommersdijk                         210,–

12 May 1926       2^nd Officer                          Beemsterdijk                         210,–

15 jun. 1926        2^nd Officer                          Kinderdijk                                210,– 22-10-26 returned from Antwerp.

23 Oct. 1926       2^nd Officer                          Nieuw Amsterdam              210,–

29 Mar. 1927      2^nd Officer                          Blijdendijk                                210,–

07 Apr. 1927       2^nd Officer                          Gaasterdijk                              210,–

11 Apr. 1927       Temporary ashore

23 Apr. 1927       2^nd Officer                          Gaasterdijk                              210,–

02 May. 1927     2^nd Officer                          Nieuw Amsterdam              210,–

01 Apr. 1927       Wage increase                                                                          220,–

01Dec. 1927       2^nd Officer                          Drechtdijk                                220,–

01 Jan. 1929       Wage increase                                                                          230,–

27 Apr. 1929       2^nd Officer                          Volendam                                 230,–                                                                                    13-4-29 until 19-4- 29 travelled from Liverpool to Rotterdam. On Leave.

25 Jun.1929        2^nd Officer Sr.                    Volendam                                230,–

24 Jul. 1929         2^nd Officer                          Volendam                                230,–

09 Oct. 1929       Temporary ashore                                                                 230,–  cancelled

09 Oct. 1929       2^nd Officer                          Kinderdijk                                230,–

11 Oct. 1929       Temporary ashore                                                                  230,–

20 Oct. 1929       2^nd Officer                          Leerdam                                    230,-

28 Oct. 1929       Temporary ashore                                                                  230,–

12 Nov. 1929      2^nd Officer                          Noorderdijk                             230,–

24 Nov. 1929      2^nd Officer                          Volendam                                  230,–

01 Jan. 1930       Wage increase to                                                                    235,–                                                                              On 1 April 1930 9 years 8 months and 10 days as 2^nd officer

20 Jul. 1930         Wage increase to                                                                    235,–

03 Jan. 1931       Temporary ashore                                                                  240,–

14 Jan. 1931       2^nd Officer                          Binnendijk                                240,–

04 Apr. 1931       2^nd Officer Jr.                    Statendam                               240,– Scheduled for Veendam

21 Apr. 1931       2^nd Officer Jr.                     Veendam                                  240,– At New York

25 Nov. 1931      Wage decrease                 to                                                   208,–

05 Dec. 1931      Temporary ashore                                                                  208,–Has the sperry-gyro Certificate.

19 Dec. 1931      Set ashore on 70% standby money

16 Jan. 1932       2^nd Officer                          Beemsterdijk                         208,–    with the ship to sea

17 Mar. 1932      Temporary ashore                                                                 208,–

31 Mar. 1932      Put on 70% standby money

06 apr. 1932       2^nd Officer                          Blommersdijk                          208,– harbor watch

21 Apr. 1932       Temporary ashore 70%                                                       208,–

20 May 1932       2^nd Officer                          Burgerdijk            70%         208,–

31 May 1932       Temporary ashore            70%                                           208,– due to dead in the family

04 jun. 1932        2^nd Officer                          Burgerdijk            70%          208,– habor watch day only

06 jun. 1932        2^nd Officer                          Volendam                                 208,–  with ship to sea

02 Sep. 1932       Fired from company due to strike of the sea going personell

15 Sep. 1932       Temporary ashore 70%                                                       208,– dismissal reversed

18 Sep. 1932       2^nd Officer                          Volendam 70%                      208,–

05 Dec. 1932      Assigned to the chart room in the office                  208,–    wage + day money

28 Jun. 1933       Wage decreased by 5% according to Circulaire No 929 dated 27 june 1933

05 Dec. 1933      2^nd Officer                          Statendam                                208,–    with the ship to sea

28 Dec. 1933      Wage decrease                                                                         187,20   see circ. 929 27-6-33

01 Oct. 1934       Wage decrease to                                                                   181,–

26 Jul.    1935     Act. Chief Officer              Blommersdijk                       208,–

15 Sep. 1935       Temporary ashore                                                                  208,–

19 Sep. 1935       Temporary ashore                                                                  181,–  setback to 2^nd officer

20 Sep. 1935       2^nd Officer                           Spaarndam                              181,–

09 Oct. 1935       Act. Chief Officer             Spaarndam                              208,–

11 Nov. 1935      2^nd Officer                            Spaarndam                             181,–

15 Nov. 1935      2^nd Officer                            Edam                                         181,–

04 Jan. 1936       2^nd Officer                          Drechtdijk                                181,–

27 Jan. 1936       2^nd Officer Sr.                    Volendam                                 181,–

08 May. 1936     Act. Chief Officer              Volendam                                208,–  for 1 voyage

05 Jun. 1936       2^nd Officer                          Volendam                                  181,–  set back to 2^nd officer

22 Nov. 1936      Temporary ashore                                                                  181,– Regular leave

30 Nov. 1936      2^nd Officer                          Volendam                                  181,–

29 Dec. 1936      Temporary ashore                                                                  181,–  Regular leave

04 Jan. 1937      2^nd Officer                           Volendam                                 181,–

05 Jan. 1937       Act. Chief Officer            Volendam                                 181,– Act. CO until N.Y.

21 Jan. 1937       2^nd. Officer                         Volendam                                  208,–At New York

09 Feb. 1937       Temporary ashore                                                                  181,–

13 Feb. 1937       Act. Chief Officer              Bilderdijk                                208,– Promoted to Act CO

01 Oct. 1937       According to new regulation                                           238,25

25 Dec. 1937      Temporary ashore                                                                  238,25   Regular Leave.

GAP. In 1937 the company switched to  a new administration system and its records are still with the HAL pension fund who does not allow Historians access.

05 May.1940      Chief Officer                  Delftdyk                                          304.–    Until   27 January 1943.                  Disembarked sick and transferred to Hospital in New York until 05 Feb. 1942.

Followed by 12 days of leave.

15 Jan. 1943       Promoted to Captain.

18 Feb. 1942        Captain                              Nicholas Maas                  450.50                                                                         Departed on 26 Feb. 1943 with the ss African Star to the UK to collect ship. Ship torpedoed before hand     over. Placed on 16 March 1943 in the London Labour pool.                                                                                                         xx. Sep. 1943       Travels to Newport, South England, to join ship.

13 Sep. 1943       Captain                                 Vander Capelle             450.50      Until  14 Oct 1944.

06 Dec. 1944        Staff Captain                    Fort Orange                    Joins at Barry (England)

Takes over as Captain in New York.

28 Dec. 1944        Captain                               Fort Orange                      (sailed 20 Jan. 1945)

14 Sep. 1945         On Leave until  02 Oct. 1945

Travels to Baltimore to join ship.

22 Oct. 1945         Captain                               Edam                                     Joined at Baltimore.

21 Dec. 1945         On Leave until 28 Feb. 1946

TBA

Recognitions:

Dutch Cross of Merit. issued during WW II.

Sources

a. Information provided by the son: Koos Drost.

b. Stamboeken & Movement Boeken from the Holland America Line Archive, as held by the Municiple Archives of the City of Rotterdam.

c.  Comportementen Boeken of the “Kweekschool voor de Zeevaart” as held by the Archives of the City of Rotterdam.

d. Photos and information from Capt. Alberts Database.

Last updated: 12 March 2026