A Hoeker alongside a Kaag at Anchor

Dated to 1660 and held at the Guildhall Art Gallery in London, this panel by van de Velde the Younger depicts two specific Dutch vessel types — a hoeker and a kaag — alongside each other at anchor. A hoeker was a two-masted Dutch fishing and coastal trading vessel, while a kaag was a smaller single-masted vessel used on inland waterways and coastal routes. Van de Velde's precise identification of vessel types in his titles reflects his taxonomic approach to the Dutch maritime world — he was not simply painting 'boats' but documenting specific vessel classes with accurate hull forms, rigs, and equipment. Such precise vessel portraits had real documentary and educational value for Dutch maritime culture, and collectors who understood ships appreciated the accuracy. The Guildhall Art Gallery holds this alongside the 1655 weyschuit panel, making it a notable repository of van de Velde's smaller-format, vessel-specific work.

Panel with oil depicting two identifiable vessel types in close proximity at anchor. The composition is organized to allow clear reading of each vessel's distinctive hull form and rig, with the calm anchorage setting providing ideal conditions for detailed documentation. The panel support facilitates fine rendering of rigging and sail details.