Batavier Line - Ferry Photographs

William Müller & Co


This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of the Batavier Line, which ran a passenger service between Rotterdam and London from 1830 to 1960, and was owned since 1895 by William Müller & Co.

On 12th April 1830, the Nederlandsche Stoomboot Maats (NSM), formed in 1923, started a Rotterdam-London service, after trying the Rotterdam-Hamburg and Antwerp-London routes. This was the first regular foreign-owned service into London, and the first vessel was the paddle steamer De Batavier (1829). She was followed by further steamers named Batavier, the last of which was renamed Batavier I when the 1897 pair Batavier II and Batavier III were delivered. In 1895 NSM sold the service to William Müller & Co who maintained the Batavier Line name for this route, along with its distinctive naming sequence. The large fleet of Müller coastal freighters otherwise had names ending in -burgh, and Batavier vessels would receive these names if transferred out of the London-Rotterdam fleet. They ordered two new steam ships, the Batavier II (1) and Batavier III (1). Two further ships were added in 1902, the Batavier IV and Batavier V (1), followed by a smaller relief ship Batavier VI in 1903. A daily service was maintained until the First World War, in which Batavier II (1) and Batavier V (1) were lost, to be replaced by Batavier II (2) and Batavier V (2) in 1921. A much larger ship Batavier III (2) was added in 1939, but she was lost in the war and only Batavier II (2) survived to continue services until 1960.

Until 1899, ships had berthed near London Bridge, subsequently using their own wharf at Custom House and Wool Quays near Tower Bridge. Passenger loading took place successively at London Bridge, Blackwall, Tilbury and Gravesend, the last-named coming into operation on 15th June 1922, using the Railway Pier adjacent to the ex-LCDR station there. Special boat trains were operated to Victoria Station, possibly the least spectacular of all boat trains, often drawn by six-coupled goods engines. After the war, the passenger service reverted to Tilbury until passenger services ceased in 1960. Freight service continued for some years using the motor coasters Batavier III (3) and Batavier V (3).


Ships in the Fleet:-
De Batavier - 1829-1855 - wood PS - no image available
Batavier (1) - 1855-1872 - iron PS - no image available
Batavier (2) - 1872-1897 - later Batavier I (1) - iron PS/SS (1884) - no image available
Batavier I (1) - 1897-1905 - ex-Batavier (2) - iron SS - no image available
Batavier I (2) - 1923-1937
Batavier I (3) - 1949-1949 - ex-Aardenburgh - freight only
Batavier II (1) - 1897-1916
Batavier II (2) - 1921-1960
Batavier III (1) - 1897-1939
Batavier III (2) - 1939-1940
Batavier III (3) - 1949-19?? - freight only
Batavier IV - 1902-1916
Batavier V (1) - 1902-1940
Batavier V (2) - 1921-1941
Batavier V (3) - 1959-19?? - freight only
Batavier VI - 1903-1928
Batavier VII - 1927-1938 - freight only
Batavier VIII - 1928-1937 - freight only - no image available
Koningin Emma - SMZ: 1939-1968 - Batavier charter: 1948
Oranje Nassau - SMZ: 1909-1954 - Batavier charter: 1949-1951

Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards - Home Page
www.gres.org.uk - Gravesend Railway Enthusiasts Society - Gravesend-Rotterdam Service
- Simplon Postcards facebook page
References:-
Railway & Other Steamers: Duckworth & Langmuir: published 1948, 2nd Edition 1968
A Century of North Sea Passenger Ships: Ambrose Greenway, Ian Allen 1986


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FreeFind.com provides the search technology for this website Batavier Line Batavier II (1) (1897-1916) Batavier III (1) (1897-1939)

Batavier II (1) and Batavier III (1) were built in 1897 by Gourley Brothers of Dundee. They were 244 feet long and 1136 gross tons. A 4-cylinder triple expansion engine of 2000ihp gave her a speed of 14 knots. They carried 44 first and 27 second class passengers, plus up to 250 steerage. In 1909/10 the sisters were lengthened by 16 feet to 260 feet long, and they had their lifeboats raised by one deck. Batavier II (1) was captured by submarine UB6 in 1916 and taken to Zeebrugge. On her way to Germany on 27/09/1916 she was attacked with gunfire by HM Submarine E55, abandoned and later sank. Batavier III (1) resumed thrice-weekly sailings with Batavier IV (1) and Batavier VI in early 1919. In c1930 her promenade deck was partially enclosed. Batavier III (1) was sold in 1939, being sunk in 1940 by U61 east of the Shetland Isles. Company postcard for both Batavier II (1) and Batavier III (1), as built
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WSS photographic postcard of Batavier III (1), as built Click to open larger image in new window Company postcard for both Batavier II (1) and Batavier III (1), as rebuilt 1909/10 This card was posted in 1913 from Batavier III Click to open larger image in new window Alternative copy of company postcard for both Batavier II (1) and Batavier III (1), as rebuilt This card was posted in 1931 Click to open larger image in new window Company postcard for both Batavier II (1) and Batavier III (1), as built Click to open larger image in new window WSS photographic postcard of Batavier III (1), as rebuilt with enclosed promenade deck c1930
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A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier III (1), as rebuilt with enclosed promenade deck c1930 Click to open larger image in new window Batavier IV (1902-1940) Batavier V (1) (1902-1916)

Another pair of sisters, Batavier IV (1) and Batavier V (1) were launched in 1902 by Gourley Brothers of Dundee. They were 260 feet long and 1568 gross tons. A 3-cylinder triple expansion engine of 2300ihp gave a speed of 14.5 knots. They carried 75 first and 28 second class passengers, plus up to 325 steerage. Batavier V (1) was mined and sunk in 1916. Batavier IV (1) returned to service in 1919 with Batavier III (1). Part of her promenade deck was enclosed c1930. She was requisitioned as the training ship HMS Eastern Isles in 1940 and was renamed HMS Western Isles the following year. She did not return to Batavier Line after the war and survived in a static role until the early 1970s. WSS photographic postcard of Batavier IV (1) Click to open larger image in new window A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier IV (1) after 1930 Click to open larger image in new window Reproduction 1916 poster showing Batavier IV (1) Click to open larger image in new window A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier V (1) Click to open larger image in new window Batavier VI (1) (1903-1928)

Batavier VI was launched in 1903 as a smaller relief ship for the London service. She was sold to M.H.Bland in 1928 as Gibel Zerjon, running services to Tangier and Casablanca. Sold in 1939, she was lost in 1940 as the Florida.
No image available Batavier II (2) (1921-1960) Batavier V (2) (1921-1941)

Batavier II (2) and Batavier V (2) were built in 1921 to replace the war losses of their earlier namesakes, and were virtually repeats of the 1902 sisters. They were built by Wilton in Rotterdam, and were 260 feet long and 1573 gross tons. They carried 98 first and 53 second class passengers. Their promenade decks were partially enclosed c1930. Batavier V (2) was seized by German forces in Rotterdam in 1940, and later sunk by a Royal Navy MTB in 1941 on her way to Guernsey. Batavier II (2) had her mainmast removed in the war, but returned to Batavier Line in 1946, initially running between Rotterdam and Harwich, reverting to London in 1947. Since she had no running mate, the Zeeland Shipping Company's Koningin Emma (summer 1948) and Oranje Nassau (1949-51) assisted her A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier II (2) 1930s condition with full-sized mainmast and enclosed promenade deck Click to open larger image in new window A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier II (2) in 1953 without mainmast Click to open larger image in new window Batavier II (2) in 1953 without mainmast A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier II (2) in 1958 with small mainmast Click to open larger image in new window WSS photographic postcard of Batavier II (2) with small mainmast Click to open larger image in new window A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier V (2) 1930s condition with enclosed promenade deck Click to open larger image in new window Batavier I (2) (1923-1937 - freight only)

Batavier I (2) was a steam coaster built in 1915. She was acquired in 1923 and renamed Batavier I (2). She was transferred away from the Rotterdam-London route in 1937 and renamed Sandenburgh. A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier I (2) as Sandenburgh Click to open larger image in new window Batavier VII(1927-1938 - freight only)
Batavier VII was a small motor coaster built in 1927. She was transferred to the Müller fleet in 1938 and renamed Veeneburgh. A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier VII as Veeneburgh Click to open larger image in new window Batavier III (2) (1939-1940)

Batavier III (2) was built in 1939 by Scheepswerf De Noord, entering service on 16th June. She was 2687 gross tons, 283 feet long and carried 88 first, 71 second and 24 third class passengers. Despite the modern motorship appearance, she remained steam powered with a 3-cylinder Werkspoor compound of 3000ihp giving a speed of 15 knots. Her period in service was very short, since she was laid up at the start of WW2. She was seized by the Germans in May 1940, but was mined and sunk on 15th October 1942. A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier III (2) Click to open larger image in new window Koningin Emma (SMZ: 1939-1968 - Batavier: 1948)

The Zeeland Shipping Company's Koningin Emma (summer 1948) and Oranje Nassau (1949-51) assisted the Batavier II (2) with additional sailings. Official SMZ postcard of Koningin Emma, issued to cover both ships. Official SMZ postcard of Koningin Emma, issued to cover both ships. Official SMZ postcard of Koningin Emma, issued to cover both ships. Oranje Nassau (SMZ: 1909-1954 - Batavier: 1949-1951)

The Great Eastern Railway received their first turbines in 1903, and accelerated their services. SMZ responded by building three turbines of their own at Fairfields, the Prinses Juliana (1), Oranje Nassau and Mecklenberg (1). The turbines were used on the night service, with the less competitive day service being operated by the displaced 1895 paddle steamers. After one year, the turbines were moved to Folkestone in 1911, since the Medway was unsuitable for their greater draft than the paddlers. The distance from Vlissingen (Flushing) to Folkestone was 92 miles, compared to 112 miles from Queenborough. The day service remained at Queenborough. Prinses Juliana (1) and Mecklenberg (1) were lost within days of each other early in 1916, leaving Oranje Nassau as the only survivor. Oranje Nassau also survived the Second War, and re-opened services from Harwich to Holland in 1946 with the Prague of the LNER. The following year she moved to the day service. When the 1939 diesels returned to service in 1948, Oranje Nassau was chartered to Batavier Line for their Rotterdam-Tilbury service. This continued until 1952, when she returned to the Harwich-Hook route. She was scrapped in 1954. Kingsway (W.H.Smith) postcard S.16849 of Oranje Nassau on Harwich-Flushing (Vlissingen) service. Duncan photographic postcard of Oranje Nassau. She survived both wars in a career of 43 years. Batavier I (3) (1949 - freight only)
Batavier I (3) was a motor coaster built in 1949 as Aardenburgh. She was renamed when briefly running on the Rotterdam station in 1949. A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier I (3) Click to open larger image in new window Batavier III (3) (1949-19?? - freight only)
Batavier III (3) was a motor coaster built in 1949, which continued in service when passenger services ceased in 1960. A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier III (3) Click to open larger image in new window Batavier V (3) (1959-19?? - freight only)
Batavier V (3) was a motor coaster built to replace Batavier II (2) when passenger services ceased in 1960. A.Duncan photographic postcard of Batavier V (3) Click to open larger image in new window UK Excursion Ships - Ferry Postcards - Cruise Ship Postcards - Ocean Liner Postcards Top of Page - Simplon Postcards - Recent Updates - Simplon Postcards - Home Page

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