Dive into the hidden shipwreck and its treasures
At the bottom of the Wadden Sea lies a national monument, Burgzand Noord. The water flows rapidly and visibility is limited, sometimes as little as 30 centimeters. It houses many ancient shipwrecks, from which spectacular finds emerge, including the famous 17th-century dress from the Palmwood Wreck, discovered by local divers from Texel in 2014.
Nobody is officially allowed to access the wreck or its treasures, and taking any of the finds is illegal. That’s why we’ve created a replica of the Palmwood wreck on this website, so you can go on your own adventure to discover the treasures.
“You always want to go further and discover what’s inside, that’s the thrill of treasure hunting and it never loses its excitement. I think every boy has that instinct.“
Divers who explore wrecks like this are captivated by the ship and the treasures on board. They are the first people in centuries to see and touch the items in the wreck. They see the dive as a journey through time. That’s why we’re taking you back to where it all began: the 17th century. This place - the “Texel Roads” - was a busy spot where almost all ships that set sail in all directions waited for the right wind. Scroll to the wreck, listen to the commentary from different divers, and discover the most important finds from the Palmwood Wreck. Enjoy the adventure!
How does the site work?
This interactive documentary is rich in audio, voice-over, and music, and is best experienced with the sound on and headphones. You navigate through the site by scrolling down. When you hear a voice-over, you can stop scrolling and listen. You can always continue scrolling to explore the wreck further. On a desktop computer, you can also navigate the documentary using the arrow keys (↑↓) and move the mouse left and right to look underwater. On a mobile phone, you can look left and right by moving your device left or right.