OA

Amsterdamse gasterijhoudsters

Much remains to be discovered about the world of equipping and harbouring the crews of the Dutch West India Company (WIC), Dutch East India Company (VOC), and Admiralties, especially the role of women in the port of Amsterdam. Notarial deeds lend themselves perfectly to reconstruct this history. The nearly 8.000 examined deeds of notary Henrick Schaef show that women played a major role in these activities. About a third of the transports of gages by sailors were made in the name of a woman. In total, hundreds of women were involved. They provided shelter, food, clothing, and/or financial services to sailors and soldiers. The vast majority of female creditors appear only once or a few times, but so do male creditors. In contrast, a number of women are among the city’s most active hostesses, with Cathalina d’Accré as the most telling example during the period under study.