At the end of the 16th century, when Dunkirk was part of the Spanish Netherlands, the Dutch, taking advantage of their naval superiority, chased the Dunkirk fishermen from the waters of the North Sea. Denied access to the plentiful herring grounds, the inhabitants of the town had no other option but to turn to privateering.
Dunkirk soon became the premier privateering port, ahead of the English, Dutch and French; Dunkirk corsairs flying the Spanish flag captured 1593 ships from 1629 to 1638. The best were rewarded by the King of Spain and were able to enter the Spanish navy as ships’ captains; Jacques Colaert was made a Knight of Saint-James and an admiral while Michel Jacobsen also became an admiral and had the honour to be buried in the Cathedral of Seville. Under Louis XIV, Jean Bart was the most famous Dunkirk corsair.
The port of Dunkirk on the arrival of the English fleet in 1712. Oil painting by Jean Jonaert.
Port Museum Collection.