Gulden Zeepaert

The Gulden Zeepaert ("Golden Seahorse") was a ship belonging to the Dutch East India Company.

[5] The Gulden Zeepaert sailed from the Netherlands on 22 May 1626, under the command of Francois Thijssen (sometimes recorded as Thijszoon or Thyssen).

It appears that in January 1627 the vessel encountered the Southland in the vicinity of Cape Leeuwin.

Instead of turning north to make for Batavia, as required by Dutch ships of this period, following what is known as the Brouwer Route, it continued along the south coast of Australia for a distance of 1,800 kilometres (1,100 mi).

The principal evidence consists of contemporary maps, a brief reference to the voyage in the Daily Register[10] at Batavia for 1627,[11] and in instructions to Gerrit Thomaszoon Pool in 1636 and Abel Tasman in 1644.