Did you know that the "Flying Dutchman" was not a Disney idea? It's true. There is a real legend of The Flying Dutchman that has been considered a warning to sailors when danger is ahead. It is said to be seen from a certain distance along with a ghostly light. It's eternal damnation to forever be at sea comes from a true story.
Hendrick Vanderdecken's heart belonged to the sea. His pride was The Flying Dutchman. He took his crew and The Flying Dutchman out on a long, dangerous voyage that would lead to a one way ticket to eternity. The Flying Dutchman set out from Amsterdam to sail to port in East India. They had to pass through The Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa which was an important passage for all the ships on their way to India. This region had been known as the Cape of Storms and named so by Bartholomew Dias. Rounding the Cape in a severe storm, the Flying Dutchman began to sink. Vanderdecken ignored dangers and would not give up although his terrified crewmen wanted to turn back to safer waters. He swore he would accomplish his voyage even if it took him until doomsday ... and it did. The Flying Dutchman and its crew were doomed to sail the waters for eternity. Vanderdecken and his crew were never again seen on land.
Sailors fear this terrible apparition because they believe it fortells of doom. The ones who do not heed the warnings of the Dutchman meet their own doom. England's future King Gegorge V (186 - 1936) reported in his journal that he saw the Flying Dutchman off the port bow at 4 AM. His words were these:
"A strange red light as of a phantom ship all aglow, in the midst of which light the mast, spars and sails of a brig 200 yards distant stood out in strong relief .... on arriving there, no vestige nor any sign whatever of a material ship was to be seen either near or right away to the horizon, the night being clear and the sea calm. Thirteen persons altogether saw her."
Hendrick Vanderdecken's heart belonged to the sea. His pride was The Flying Dutchman. He took his crew and The Flying Dutchman out on a long, dangerous voyage that would lead to a one way ticket to eternity. The Flying Dutchman set out from Amsterdam to sail to port in East India. They had to pass through The Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa which was an important passage for all the ships on their way to India. This region had been known as the Cape of Storms and named so by Bartholomew Dias. Rounding the Cape in a severe storm, the Flying Dutchman began to sink. Vanderdecken ignored dangers and would not give up although his terrified crewmen wanted to turn back to safer waters. He swore he would accomplish his voyage even if it took him until doomsday ... and it did. The Flying Dutchman and its crew were doomed to sail the waters for eternity. Vanderdecken and his crew were never again seen on land.
Sailors fear this terrible apparition because they believe it fortells of doom. The ones who do not heed the warnings of the Dutchman meet their own doom. England's future King Gegorge V (186 - 1936) reported in his journal that he saw the Flying Dutchman off the port bow at 4 AM. His words were these:
"A strange red light as of a phantom ship all aglow, in the midst of which light the mast, spars and sails of a brig 200 yards distant stood out in strong relief .... on arriving there, no vestige nor any sign whatever of a material ship was to be seen either near or right away to the horizon, the night being clear and the sea calm. Thirteen persons altogether saw her."
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