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What is the Flying Dutchman?

Niki Foster
Niki Foster
Niki Foster
Niki Foster

The Flying Dutchman is a legendary ghost ship that is cursed to sail the seas for eternity. It is often said to have a ghostly glow, and like many other supernatural entities throughout folklore, it is said to herald danger or doom for those who see it. Quite a few sightings of the Flying Dutchman have been reported throughout history, and stories about the ghost ship's origins abound.

Many versions of the story set the scene of the ship's loss at the Cape of Good Hope, the southern tip of Africa. The earliest stories about a wandering ghost ship, dating from the Middle Ages, set the action in the North Sea. Most often, the captain is said to be responsible for the ship's fate, either because he gambles with the Devil or because he makes a rash oath as the ship begins to sink during a storm.

In some versions of the story, the captain of the Flying Dutchman makes an ill-advised oath as the ship sinks during a storm.
In some versions of the story, the captain of the Flying Dutchman makes an ill-advised oath as the ship sinks during a storm.

The captain is given different names in different versions of the tale, including Van der Decken, Ramhout van Dam, and Falkenburg. Some say that "Flying Dutchman" was the captain's nickname rather than the name of the ship. Others believe that the captain of the Flying Dutchman is based on the historical figure Bernard Fokke, a 17th century Dutch captain known for his uncannily speedy trips from the Netherlands to Java.

The Flying Dutchman is the subject of an opera by Richard Wagner.
The Flying Dutchman is the subject of an opera by Richard Wagner.

The most famous sighting of the Flying Dutchman occurred on 11 July 1881 off the coast of Australia. The event was recorded by a man named Dalton, the tutor of the two Princes of Wales, who were present on the voyage. The younger prince would later become King George V of the United Kingdom.

The HMS Bacchante encountered the Flying Dutchman at 4:00 in the morning, and 13 of the ship's passengers reportedly saw the ghost ship. The phantom ship was said to glow red and to suddenly vanish. At 10:45 the same morning, the lookout who first reported the phantom vessel fell to his death. The tragedy was attributed to the ghost ship sighting.

The legend of the Flying Dutchman has inspired numerous works of fiction, including a short story by Washington Irving and an opera by Richard Wagner. It also features prominently in the 2006 film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

Niki Foster
Niki Foster

In addition to her role as a LanguageHumanities editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interesting and unusual topics in order to get ideas for her own articles. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she majored in Linguistics and Anthropology.

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Niki Foster
Niki Foster

In addition to her role as a LanguageHumanities editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interesting and unusual topics in order to get ideas for her own articles. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she majored in Linguistics and Anthropology.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

laluna

Is it common to call frequent travelers "flying Dutchman"?

I have heard that expression, but I am not sure whether it is rare or a common expression.

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    • In some versions of the story, the captain of the Flying Dutchman makes an ill-advised oath as the ship sinks during a storm.
      By: Andrii IURLOV
      In some versions of the story, the captain of the Flying Dutchman makes an ill-advised oath as the ship sinks during a storm.
    • The Flying Dutchman is the subject of an opera by Richard Wagner.
      By: nickolae
      The Flying Dutchman is the subject of an opera by Richard Wagner.
    • The earliest stories about the Flying Dutchman are set in the North Sea.
      By: Ekler
      The earliest stories about the Flying Dutchman are set in the North Sea.