Dutch clipper

While the majority of the clipper ships sailed under British and American flags, more than a hundred clippers were built in the Netherlands. They were medium clippers rather than the larger extreme clipper.

At an exhibition in Amsterdam in 1852 the Dutch lieutenant-commander M.H. Jansen showed a model of a medium-clipper which he obtained from the shipbuilders Perrine, Patterson & Stack of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The shipping company of Gebr. Blussé (Dordrecht) were very impressed by this model. This resulted in the launching of the clipper Kosmopoliet (800 tons) for the company in 1854. She is said to be the first Dutch clipper.

But in 1850 the barque Magdalena (377 ton) was built in Amsterdam, and in 1853 four more ships with clipper lines were launched, of which the iron ship California (663 ton) is the most famous. She was built by Fop Smit, commanded by F.C. Jaski for the company L. Bienfait & sn. On her maiden voyage Jaski sailed her in 86 days from The Downs to Port Adelaide, delivering a hundred satisfied English immigrants.