Ships have never been unknown to the people of Maastricht, but this ship is the odd one out. It is a South-European type of ship, which became very notorious as a punishment. The criminal sentenced to the galleys was doomed to spend his life handcuffed to the oar and was to abandon all hope.
The re-installation of IN THE GALLEY here at Tongersestraat 3, so directly opposite the then District Court, must be coincidental. In any case, it has been done very skilfully, because anyone who does not know better would not suspect that this gable stone has not always stood there. It originates from Muntstraat 39, where it was displayed in a completely different frame and also with the different caption IN DE GALEYE (with one L) without the year.
It is not clear for what reason the current year was chosen. However, 1739 is a possible date, as it is known that around that time the mud wall between "the golden horse" and "the galley" was replaced by a new stone firewall. It is possible that the front wall was also included in the rebuilding at that time.
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