Civilian seaplanes never caught on in the Netherlands, but the navy's Van Berkel crews toured the country enthusiastically it seems. W60 and W62 are seen visiting the fishing village of Volendam. People wear traditional costume. The gate to the terrace of Hotel Spaander, which still exists, is on the far right. Photo is probably from the 1920s because the aircraft don't seem to have all the upgrades the W-A went through. Photo by: LJ Karels / Zuiderzeemuseum

Overflying the Thousand Islands off Jakarta, then Batavia. Photo from: Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie

A copy of the Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 by a maker of mincers and scales, the W-A played a major role in Dutch naval aviation as testified by the many photos available of the type in service. W62 and W69 are also visible. Photo from: Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie

Van Berkels W8, W7 and W12 beached at Kupang, West Timor. Year approximate. By 1941 the Dutch navy had just a few true seaplane bases in the vast Indonesian archipelago, but there were some 50 auxiliary sites with rudimentary facilities. Photo from: Leiden University Libraries

De Mok is a bay on Texel Island, next to where the ferry now arrives from the mainland. The former seaplane station is a marines training facility today. The church of Den Hoorn is on the far left. W54 written off after accident at Loosdrecht Lakes in 1930. Photo from: Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie

A scene like a painting in the port of Priok. Photo from: Leiden University Libraries

Van Berkels W53, W61 and W64 visiting Brielle, west of Rotterdam. Note the huge anchors carried by these small floatplanes! Photo from: Streekarchief Voorne-Putten

The Van Berkel W-A, a licence-built Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 seaplane, was an important type in the Dutch Naval Air Service, serving both in Holland and in the East Indies. W3, in the background, is listed as written off in mid-1924. Photo from: Leiden University Libraries

A squadron of nine W-As from De Mok naval air station, Texel Island, landed on the river Spaarne, reportedly because the engine of one of the aircraft was running hot. Photo from: Noord-Hollands Archief

'Three seaplanes from De Mok air station landed on the Amstel River near the gasworks [former Zuidergasfabriek] this morning. It was not an emergency, the aeroplane pilots very calmly taxied to the Amstel Bridge before turning back. It was just a routine exercise. After cruising around for half an hour, they took off again near the Amstellaan [now Vrijheidslaan, bridge there built in 1932] and flew to Schellingwoude naval air station.' Photo taken towards the eastern bank at Oetgensstraat. Photo from: Amsterdam City Archives