Rotterdam-West , South Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Van Speijkstraat - Jan van Speyk

Van Speijkstraat Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 20, 2024

1. Van Speijkstraat Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

De Van Speijkstraat is vernoemd naar Jan Carel Josephus van Speijk (1802-1831). Hij belandde toen zijn ouders kort na zijn geboorte waren komen te overlijden in het Burgerweeshuis in zijn geboortestad Amsterdam. Van Speijk werd opgeleid om kleermaker te worden, maar werd een autodidact zeevaarder. Tussen 1823 en 1825 kreeg hij door zijn optreden in Nederlands-Indië de bijnaam Schrik der Roovers. Tijdens de Belgische opstand was hij kanonneerbootcommandant van's lands kanonneerboot n°2.

Op 5 februari 1831 dreef zijn schip op de Schelde ter hoogte van Antwerpen, door een harde wind en een slecht functionerend anker, naar de kant waar een woedende menigte op zijn schip sprong. Hierop sprak Van Speijk de historische laatste woorden: "...en een infame Brabander worden? Dan liever de lucht in". Door een brandende lont in het buskruit te steken ontplofte het schip en met hem, zijn bemanning en ook vele van de boze Antwerpenaars.

(English translation:)
The Van Speijkstraat is named after Jan Carel Josephus van Speijk (1802-1831). When his parents died shortly after

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his birth, he ended up in the municipal orphanage in his native city of Amsterdam. Van Speijk trained to become a tailor, but became a self-taught seafarer. Between 1823 and 1825 he was given the nickname Schrik der Roovers (“Terror of the Bandits") due to his actions in the Dutch East Indies. During the Belgian uprising he was gunboat commander of the country's gunboat n°2.

On February 5, 1831, his ship drifted on the Scheldt near Antwerp, due to a strong wind and a malfunctioning anchor, to the side where an angry crowd jumped on his ship. Van Speijk then spoke his historic last words: "...and become an infamous Brabander? Then I’d rather take to the air." By lighting a fuse in the gunpowder, the ship exploded, and along with him, his crew and many of the angry Antwerp residents.

Erected by the 32N.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Wars, Non-US. A significant historical date for this entry is February 5, 1831.

Location. 51° 55.192′ N, 4° 27.989′ E. Marker is in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland (South Holland). It is in Rotterdam-West. It is at the intersection of Van Speykstraat and West-Kruiskade, on the left when traveling south on Van Speykstraat. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Van Speykstraat 2, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland 3014 JT, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic Europe,

the Benelux Low Countries,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire

and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Van Speijkstraat marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 20, 2024

2. Van Speijkstraat marker - wide view

walking distance of this marker: Coolsestraat (within shouting distance of this marker); Drievriendenstraat / “Three Friends” Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Josephstraat (within shouting distance of this marker); Palmdwarsstraat (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Anna Paulownastraat (Anna Pavlovna) (about 90 meters away); Korte Bajonetstraat / “Little Bayonet” Street (about 150 meters away); Batavierenstraat (about 180 meters away); Gouvernestraat (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rotterdam.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Jan van Speyk (Wikipedia).

Overview: Jan Carel Josephus van Speyk (31 January 1802 – 5 February 1831) was a Dutch naval lieutenant commander with the United Netherlands Navy who became a hero in the Netherlands for his opposition to the Belgian Revolution.

Death: On 5 February 1831, a gale blew his gunboat into the quay at the port of Antwerp. The Belgians quickly stormed his ship, demanding Van Speyk haul down the Dutch flag. Rather than surrender his ship, he fired a pistol (some versions say he threw a lighted cigar) into a barrel of gunpowder in the ship's magazine. According to legend he shouted, "I'd rather be blown up then". The number of Belgians killed is unknown, though it probably numbered
Photographed by Pieter Le Comte, February 5, 1831

3. Explosion of the gunboat of Jan van Speijk…
…and the Honor of the Dutch Flag maintained by J.C.J. van Speijk on February 5, 1831.
in the dozens. Twenty-eight of his 31 crewmen also perished in the blast

(Submitted on April 8, 2024.)

2. Jan van Speijk: Held of Pias (Zeeuwse Ankers, in Dutch).

Last words not like the legend? (in translation): Who doesn't know the slogan: "Then I’d rather take to the air!"? According to tradition, Jan van Speijk shouted these words just before he detonated his gunboat in front of Antwerp. In reality, these words, which went down in history as his last words, came from a letter Van Speijk wrote to his niece. In it he mirrored previous heroes who had prevented their ship from falling into enemy hands with a similar action.

(Submitted on April 8, 2024.)

3. Jan van Speijk – “Dan liever de lucht in!” (Historiek, in Dutch).

Status (in translation): Nowadays, Van Speijk is no longer generally seen as a hero, and his actions are also questioned. Some dismiss his act as a controversial suicide attack and terrorist act, while others still see Van Speijk as a man who selflessly sacrificed himself for the fatherland.

(Submitted on April 8, 2024.)

Additional keywords. Van Speykstraat

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 202 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 8, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.