The Dutch fleet was icebound off Den Helder during the winter of 1795.  The story is that the heroic Napoleonic French Cavalry, which was advancing up the penninsula to stop that key port from falling into the hands of the British, defeated the Dutch Navy and captured the fleet. However the new Dutch nation had virtually surrendered to Napoleon already.  So it seems more likely that the "icebound" was used as further reason for the Dutch not to fight, and that the Navy handed over their ships without a shot fired. Which ever story is nearer the truth, French painter Charles Louis Mozin depicted the scene, which appears to have been the souce material for Philippe Ledoux.

C L Mozin's "Capture of the Dutch Fleet"

 ("La Cavalerie Francaise Prend La Flotte Batave Gelee dans le Texel")  ....... and Marine et Cavalerie by Phillipe Ledoux.

Should you ever end up in Den Helder on the way to or from the Texel car ferries, do allow yourself an extra day to have a look at Fort Kijkduin. The fort is one on the best preserved Napoleonic forts in Europe and the Dutch Navy Museum on the way to the ferry, is actually housed in the original Napoleonic shipyards.

NOTE:  Watch out for fakes of this Hermes scarf...have a look at my Marine et Cavalerie guide to see the differences.

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Staying on the marine theme: Tuiga is a racing yacht celebrating its centenary in 2009.  It was recently fully refurbished and is now owned by the Yacht Club de Monaco.  Hermes has always had strong links with Monaco and celebrated this centenary with a scarf of the same name. 

Tuiga by Dominik Jarlegant 2008                 ...    Tuiga and its various battles with its class rivals feature in Jannick Manier's En Course.......

...Vent Portant........                   ................ and Rafales.................

...and here is the refurbished Tuiga, normally docked in Monaco, when not racing worldwide.....

Well I hope that you have enjoyed this little marine excursion.   Have a look at some of my other Ebay guides on Hermes fakes via this Index Link.  Clicking on the YES button helps more people to see these guides. Thanks.