Hidden Secrets Unearthed: 19th-Century Dutch Shipwreck Discovered Off Australian Shores
Ever wonder what it’s like to finish a long-haul voyage only to have the sea snap back with a cruel twist? That’s exactly what happened to the Koning Willem de Tweede, a stately Dutch merchant ship that had just completed its journey from bustling Hong Kong to the calm shores of South Australia—only to be tossed around by a sudden storm and wreck along Long Beach. Imagine the frustration: you finally dock after a long trip, and then Mother Nature says, “Not so fast.” Well, after more than a century of mystery, a tenacious team of researchers may have finally tracked down the elusive wreckage of this 19th-century maritime traveler. What secrets lay buried beneath the sand and waves? And how did a ship, built to carry immigrants eager for a new life during the gold rush, meet such a dramatic end? Join me as we dive into this fascinating tale of survival, loss, and rediscovery — it’s a real nail-biter with a little Dutch flair tossed in for good measure. LEARN MORE
The Koning Willem de Tweede had just completed a journey from Hong Kong to South Australia, when a storm struck and caused it to wreck off the coast of Long Beach.
Australian National Maritime MuseumAn illustration of the lost Dutch merchant ship Koning Willem de Tweede.
A team of researchers has seemingly located the wreck of the Koning Willem de Tweede, a Dutch merchant ship that was lost off the Australian coast in 1857.
According to a new press release from the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Koning Willem de Tweede Shipwreck Project launched in 2022 with the end goal of locating and surveying the wreckage. Now, three years later, it seems the effort has paid off.
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