File:Two Dutch boeier yachts under sail RMG BHC0867.tiff

A pen and oil panel drawing of Dutch boeier yachts in a moderate breeze. They are probably meant to be in the area of Amsterdam harbour. On the left is a boeier yacht with a man and a woman seated amidships in the cockpit. She has a large ensign presumably red, white and blue with the arms of Amsterdam and lion supporters in the white. On the right, and a little further away is a second boeier yacht with a man seated on the cabin top and two other men aft. The helsman is shown holding a flagon. She has a striped pendant with a coat of arms, flagon and four-leaf flower. Boeier yachts were the characteristic private yachts of the 17th century. Amongst the decorative features are the carved rudder heads often in the form of human heads. The recreational nature of these yachts is stressed by the civilian figures within them, in the right hand yacht the helmsman is drinking from a flagon.

Across the background on the left is a sea wall and a small inlet in which two vessels are lying. Close to the shore is a small flute under sail. To the right is a small ship with a common Dutch flag at the main. In the right background is a spit of land and on the left a sea wall forms the entrance to a harbour. In the left distance there is a small harbour and village. The small armed Dutch ship in the distance on the right may have the Orange arms with a lion supporting. The painting is possibly dated circa 1660 and is signed ‘W V Veld(e)’ in black pigment in cursive script.