Model of the 58-gun East Indiaman Merkurius
This ship’s model was once a showpiece at the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company in Middelburg. In 1849 ownership of the by-then highly dilapidated model was transferred to the Naval Ministry, which had it restored. The model represents a characteristic type of East  Indiaman built in Zeeland in the early 18th century. Although the model bears a name and year of construction, there is no mention of a Merkurius from 1747 in company records.