Depictions of seventeenth century English ketches are particularly scarce. These small ships, with a capacity of about 50 tons, were developed in England as small coastal trading vessels. Ketches of the type – so minutely observed in this drawing – were often in use as passage ships between Amsterdam and London. An extensive ordinance dated 1611 makes it clear that there used to be two regular sailings to London every two weeks. They would depart from the Londensche Kade, next to the Lutherse Kerk on the Amsterdam Singel canal. We can image that father and son Van de Velde made use this service on their trips to England.