Probably painted c.1655 by Van de Velde the Younger working for the Van de Velde workshop. The picture shows a smalschip, a ship designed for inland waterways, in a patch of sunlight in the right foreground with a weyschuit, or small open fishing boat, alongside. To the left a large ship flies a Dutch flag and ensign, with a kaag, an inland cargo vessel, and smalschip to the right. In the right distance another ship flies the Dutch flag. The picture demonstrates Van de Velde’s masterly evocation of the subtlest changes in conditions at sea. Here the effects of a stiff breeze are captured in the crested waves, the scudding clouds and sunlight reflected off the sea.