Case 138
The Batavia
*** Content Warning: Sexual assault, child victims ***
In October of 1628, the newly constructed Batavia embarked on its maiden voyage from the shores of The Netherlands, setting sail for the Dutch East Indies. The 341 individuals on board were oblivious to the fact that the journey would eventually be described as one of the worst horror stories in maritime history.
Life on the ship was harsh and perilous. Sleeping quarters were cramped and the drinking water quickly became contaminated with worms and algae. Infectious outbreaks and nutritional deficiency soon claimed the lives of 10 passengers. However, for those who survived the unpleasant conditions, the worst was yet to come.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
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RESOURCES
PRIMARY SOURCES
Commander Francisco Pelsaert’s journal
BOOKS
Batavia’s Graveyard: The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led History’s Bloodiest Mutiny – Mike Dash
The Wreck of the Batavia – Simon Leys
Islands of Angry Ghosts – Hugh Edwards
WEBSITES
VOC Historical Society – Batavia
Western Australian Museum Shipwreck Databases
ARTICLES
Archaeologists discover new mass grave from notorious shipwreck
Batavia’s mysteries unfold with discovery of mass grave
Databases of people aboard the VOC ships Batavia & Zeewijk