Model of a Jolly Boat c. 1819

This is a model of a jolly boat made by Rijkswerf Rotterdam. Shipyard models allow us to consider the social and economic circumstances in which craftsmen and shipbuilders in the Netherlands operated. These models were often made to present ideas to potential investors or to celebrate successful commissions. Jolly boats like this one would have played an important role in the day-to-day running of naval operations and merchant shipping in the Netherlands, in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Dutch Republic’s place as a world-leading maritime power relied on shipbuilding and design, trades that were often passed down within families. This model provides a glimpse into the lives of the skilled workers who drove this success. Models like this can be understood better through archival research into naval history, family history, and the records of institutions such as the Rijkswerf.