“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
For he commandeth, and raised the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths:
their soul is melted because of trouble.”

Psalm 107, 23-26

Those concerned with the study of New Netherland will be familiar with the Dutch East India Company, the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC), established in 1602 to trade with India and Southeast Asia, as well as the Dutch West India Company, the Geoctroyeerde Westindische Compagnie (GWC), chartered in 1621 for a trade monopoly in North America, the Caribbean, and Brazil.

Set in the brick wall of the Steenschuur canal in Leiden is a plaque commemorating the catastrophic buskruitramp, or gunpowder disaster, of 1807. It says: Ligplaats van het Kruitschip Gesprongen 12 Januari 1807, or the mooring place of the gunpowder ship exploded 12 January 1807.

Peter “Pat” Zondervan (1909–1993) was an American publisher who co-founded Zondervan Corporation with his brother Bernard in 1931, helping build one of the largest Christian publishing houses and producing the influential New International Version Bible.

Bernard “Bernie” Zondervan (1910–1966) was an American religious book publisher who co-founded Zondervan Corporation with his brother Peter in 1931, building one of the largest Christian publishing houses in the United States.

Dean Zanuck (born 1972) is an American film producer and studio executive who continued the Zanuck family’s Hollywood legacy, producing films including Road to Perdition, Get Low, and The Zero Theorem.

Richard D. Zanuck (1934–2012) was an American film producer and studio executive who led production at Twentieth Century Fox and later produced major films including Jaws, Driving Miss Daisy, Big Fish, and Road to Perdition.

Darryl F. Zanuck (1902–1979) was a pioneering American film producer and studio executive who co-founded Twentieth Century Fox and produced influential films including The Grapes of Wrath, All About Eve, and The Sound of Music.

Billy Van Zandt (born 1957) is an American playwright, actor, and director known for numerous stage comedies including Love, Sex and the I.R.S. and for television writing and development, with frequent collaborator Jane Milmore.

Steven Van Zandt (born 1950) is an American musician, songwriter, and actor best known as guitarist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and for roles in The Sopranos and Lilyhammer, while also recording solo music.