Witt de, Derk
Captain Derk de Witt during his HAL period (c)
Captain Derk de Witt was born on 05 October 1865 and, came over from the company W. H Muller, when it sold two ore carrying ships to Holland America. The ss Blotberg and the ss Grangesberg. Holland America needed the ships to carry coal and grain from the USA to the Netherlands during the First World War, when due to its neutrality in the conflict it could not buy grain in Germany any longer.
Captain Derk de Witt in winter uniform. Looking at the deckhouse behind hime and the wooden railing, it looks like it that this photo was taken onthe ss Andijk (I) (c)
He married Antje Groenewold (24 Feb. 1871 – 25 Oct. 1918) on 27 Sept, 1893 at Delfzijl. There were 5 daughters,
Henderika (24 September 1894) at Rotterdam
Sieberdina Reinderina (23 December 1897) at Rotterdam
Antina (14 October 1901) at Rotterdam
Derkelina (10 May 1904) at Rotterdam
Emma (18 May 1907) at Rotterdam (c)
He obtained first mates (= also captains) ticket on 11 Dec. 1891 and until joining Holland America there is no trace of him.
The ss Beukelsdijk (ex ss Grangesberg) in neutral colors. Please note the name on the side of the hull but also in (neon letters) above the ppop deck behind the funnel. (b)
He was with his ship in Puerto Rico on 16 March 1918 when the ship was confiscated by the US Government for the war effort. He then sailed home with all the other captains and crews on board the ss Nieuw Amsterdam (I) and then had to wait at home until the ship was released. As far as the records tell, he did not have to sail to the USA, as the ship was handed over to him & HAL on 19 May. 1919.
Captain Derk de Witt on board of the ss ?? tba (c)
He sailed for Holland America for 10 years. Joined in 1916, retired in November 1925 (upon reaching the compulsory retirement age of 60) and passed away on 04 January. 1928
Any relatives or anybody else who finds this website, if you can help with photos, family information, or anything else to create a biography about the captain, please contact me on CaptAlbert1@aol.com.
For the time being I can only publish his sailing list: (a)
Date: Function: Ship: Wages and/or remarks.
13 May 1916 Captain Blommersdijk 300,–
08 Sep. 1916 Temporary ashore
02 Nov.1916 Captain Beukelsdijk 300,–
Due to confiscation of the Beukelsdijk returns with the ss Nieuw Amsterdam to Rotterdam and from
12 Apr. 1918 Temporary ashore waiting for assignment.
01 Aug. 1918 Wage increase 350,–
19 May. 1919 Captain Beukelsdijk 350,–
01 Jul. 1919 Wage increase 625,–
06 Jan. 1920 Wage increase 650,–
15 Oct. 1920 Wage increase 675,–
22 Jul. 1921 Temporary ashore
10 Sep. 1921 Captain Ijseldijk 675,–
16 Oct. 1921 Wage increase 675,–
12 Jul. 1922 Captain Binnendijk 585,–
01 Nov. 1922 Temporary ashore
08 Nov. 1922 Captain Andijk 585,-
25 Apr. 1923 Temporary ashore
20 Nov. 1923 Captain Meerkerk 625,-
14 Apr. 1924 Captain Westerdijk 585,-
27 May 1925 Captain Bilderdijk 585,-
01 Nov. 1925 Ashore 585,-
01 Jan. 1926 Put on standby money and deceased on 4 Jan. 1928
Sources:
(a) Hal Archives “stamboek” as held by the Municipel Archives of the City of Rotterdam
(b) Captain Albert’s photo collection.
(c) Mrs. Noor Tania-Stein. Great Grand Daughter of daughter Antina.
Last Updated: 11 May 2025
April 24, 2025 at 12:07 pm
His name was Derk not Dirk. I will try to get a picture of him in his uniform and send it to you (must be somewhere in the family).
April 24, 2025 at 7:04 pm
Thank you for your comment. I am very happy that a family member has reacted, as Captain de Witt is quite an unknown person in the HAL records. AS he came from somewhere else and then retired 10 years later. I have taken the liberty to contact you directly from my hobby email CaptAlbert1@aol.com
best regards
Capt. Albert