SPEYK, JAN VAN

(1802–1831)

Naval officer who became a leg endary figure in Dutch popular history and literature. During the Belgian Revolt, his ship was boarded by insurgents near Antwerp. Van Speyk refused to surrender and lit the fuse of a powder keg. The ship exploded and most of the crew died, but this deed was hailed as a heroic action. Van Speyk is buried in the New Church in Amsterdam.