Unknown Wreck Off Eastbourne (The Klein Hollandia): Conservation Statement and Management Plan

The Unknown Wreck off Eastbourne, off the Sussex coast, was designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973) in 2019. At the time of designation, it was believed that the wreck was most likely a Dutch warship dating to the 17th century.

It was initially speculated that the wreck may be one of the Dutch ships lost during the Battle of Beachy Head which took place off the Sussex coast of England in 1690. However, subsequent research undertaken in both England and the Netherlands identified the wreck as the remains of the Dutch warship, the Klein Hollandia, lost in 1672 during the Battle of the Smyrna Convoy. The identification of the wreck as the Klein Hollandia was announced on the BBC Digging for Britain television show that aired in January 2023.

Since 2019 the wreck has been visited and investigated by the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS). Representatives of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands visited the site in 2022 and 2023. These visits have helped to illuminate the nature and extent of the assemblage on the seabed as well as helping to protect the wreck by having a regular presence on site.

This Conservation Statement and Management Plan has been produced to enable stakeholder involvement in the conservation and management of the protected wreck site.

The Nautical Archaeology Society prepared this report on behalf of Historic England.