The history of navigation traditionally has been primarily focussed on navigation theory. The nature of the surviving sources, mainly charts and books, has pointed in that direction. Recently, ship logs and nautical education have been taken into account more, helping to create a better understanding of the practice of navigation. This approach, however, still focuses on the more formalised aspects of navigation, whereas historically many ships were actually guided to their destination by practical experience more than by education.

This conference will bring together experts on navigation history and map making and other maritime historians of the Northern seas, with the aim of pooling expertise on theory and practice of navigation of the Northern seas.

Topics may include but are not limited too:

• map making and map use
• nautical exploration and voyages of discovery
• navigation techniques
• nautical education and its influence on shipping and navigation
• navigational practices before the advent of formal education
• sources of knowledge about navigational practice

The Conference will take place on 18-20 August 2005 in Middleburgh and Flushing, in the Netherlands’ most maritime province of Zeeland. It is organised by the Association for the History of the Northern Seas, in collaboration with the Zeeuws Archief (Zeeland Archive) in Middleburgh and the Zeeuws Maritiem Muzeeum (Zeeland maritime museaum) in Flushing.

The Conference fee is € 100. The organisation aims at providing accommodation and meals to all paper presenters during the conference.

Participants will be offered the opportunity to participate in excursions to sites of maritime historical importance (Zeebrugge port, Medieval Brugge, the Delta works built to protect Zeeland against flooding after the 1953 inundation, Zierikzee) on the day before (Wednesday 17 August) and after (Sunday 21 August) the conference. Information on this and other practical matters will be sent to registered participants in due time.