The name 'Fortuna'

"Fortuna", the goddess of fate and happiness. The name 'Fortuna' is not a randomly chosen name. Fortuna, or Fanum Fortunae, is the Roman goddess of fate and happiness, who decides on prosperity and adversity. She is often depicted with wings and the Cornucopia (Horn of plenty). The proverb: "Lady Fortuna smiles at you" is also derived from her.
(source: Wikipedia)

The ship "The Fortuna"

"The Fortuna" was also the name of a Dutch merchant ship that sailed all the world's oceans from 1853 to 1877. Johannes Hoogerwerf (1835-1871), great-grandfather of the current generation of owners of Hotel & Restaurant "De Fortuna", was in charge of this tough schooner for many years. The schooner was more than 20 meters long and transported various goods and possibly also passengers.

Captain Hoogerwerf died aboard his ship as a result of the notorious yellow fever in those years. He was only 36 years old at the time. Near the Argentine capital Buenos Aires he received a so-called sailor grave. With a 'Three times around the mast for God's sake' he was entrusted to the sea ....

"The Fortuna" as the name of the hotel and restaurant.

Joh. G. Dekker (1923-1990) was a great-grandson of the captain of 'De Fortuna'. In 1971 he sold his busy contracting company to take it a bit easier. Together with his wife Ada Dekker-Boot (1922-2002) he started a hotel. In the light of the foregoing, it was obvious that the hotel would be called "De Fortuna". Joh. Dekker was a gifted amateur sculptor. Among other things, the façade sign that hangs above the entrance to the restaurant is his (see image below).

On this façade sign 'De Fortuna' carries the red-green Edamse flag and one can clearly see the Edamse Speeltoren and the Kwakelbrug in the background.

This suggests that 'De Fortuna' would regularly visit Edam or, in fact, that she had her home port in Edam. However, this is not plausible, because 'De Fortuna' had its home port in Vlaardingen. Perhaps the ship once went to an Edamse shipyard for maintenance or an occasional repair. Furthermore, the supposed connection between the ship 'De Fortuna' and Edam must be seen in the light of the poetic freedom of John. G. Dekker. He probably did this to better promote his hotel through a good story.

This is of course gladly forgiven him .....

The wooden façade board below has been sculpted by the founder of the founder of Hotel 'De Fortuna', Joh. Dekker. This sign is now hanging above the entrance.