Historic nautical map of Texel and Holland

Het Marsdiep between Texel and de Kop van Noord Holland was the shipping route to the northern Netherlands during the VOC (Dutch East India Company) era. Texel was the gateway to de Zuider Zee. The currents are strong in this outlet to the sea and there are many sandbanks.

Sail to the East

Here this outlet to the sea is shown on an old nautical map from 1760. The sandbanks are clearly shown, as is the differing geography in the area (especially de Kop van Noord Holland). A favourable wind was necessary in order to cross the sea outlet and set sail for the East.

Historical map of Holland

The map below gives an impression of (North) Holland and the Zuider Zee in the VOC era. It is clear that the Zuider Zee was a sea full of sandbanks and that there were sailable routes to Texel. Large areas of Holland were not yet drained and Wieringen was still an island.