In the right foreground of this painting, a fishing boat sails to the left. In the centre foreground, a three-master sails close-hauled on the port tack in a very heavy sea. To the far left is a fishing vessel, and to its right, in the far distance, another vessel is still discernable. On the horizon to the left, the contours of a town are visible with a harbour showing the masts of numerous ships. The weather is stormy and the waves on the sea, which may be the Zuider Zee, are high. The sky is filled with clouds which darken in the upper-right corner. The painting has been signed by the artist on a log, to the right in the foreground.

The Antwerp-born artist was the pupil of Jan Porcellis and he continued to work in the Dutch realist manner during his time in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.