Thijs Schilder is a passionate shipwreck treasure hunter and history aficionado from the Netherlands. His passion developed at an early age, when he became interested in Dutch maritime history. This interest soon grew beyond the Netherlands, evolving into a fascination for maritime history and shipwreck treasures from around the world.
For the past few years, Thijs, together with a group of close friends, has operated WreckTreasure, through which he shares his passion and connects with fellow enthusiasts. WreckTreasure is Europe’s only platform exclusively dedicated to shipwreck treasure. Through the platform, he not only sells shipwreck artifacts and coins but also shares engaging content in the form of blogs and social media posts. WreckTreasure is active on multiple social media platforms, including Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, through which it reaches a worldwide audience.
His interest in the 1715 Fleet began after discovering its rich history through articles he accessed on the 1715 Fleet Society website. What fascinated Thijs the most about the 1715 Fleet is that its story is not limited to the disaster that sank the Fleet. In addition, this event initiated the Golden Age of Piracy, an era that included pirates who remain iconic figures in modern popular culture. Yet the story did not end there. It continues to this day, with salvage crews searching each year for the Fleet’s lost treasure, while historians and scholars continue to research its remarkable history.
It is through this incredible story that Thijs hopes to grasp the fascination of a new generation of history enthusiasts. He wishes to see that the story of the 1715 Fleet gets the attention it deserves, prompting continued study and research. Through his position on the Advisory Board, he will focus his attention on a European audience, starting with the Netherlands.