Van Swinden's Balloon

Jan Hendrik van Swinden (1746-1823) is a mathematician and physicist. After his studies in Leiden, he becomes professor of physics and philosophy in Franeker. Van Swinden has a great interest in practical research.

In 1784, Europe is seized by 'balloon fever'. Everywhere, hot air balloons in all shapes and sizes are released. Professor van Swinden also builds a balloon.

On 19 October 1784, the professor releases a balloon in his back garden. The contraption is approximately six metres high. From the Heerengracht, the balloon floats over the Martinikerk. Finally, the balloon lands in the garden of a silversmith on the Coudal (now the Eise Eisingastraat).

Leeuwarder Courant, Friday 22 October

On 19 October last, Professor Van Swinden in Franeker conducted a successful experiment with a floating air balloon made of paper and pith. With this, European balloon fever from the past year has now also reached the Frisian university town.

In May of this year, a few small balloons were released in Leeuwarden by Mr Bianchi. As the reader will recall, this gentleman had no success with his largest balloon of 20 feet. After a brief flight, the balloon came down in an adjacent meadow. There the contraption was trampled and torn to shreds by a group of frenzied boys. Fortunately, such a shameful scene was spared us last Tuesday in Franeker.

Professor van Swinden conducted his experiment in the garden of his residence on the Heerengracht. He was assisted by five talented students. One held the top of the balloon with a lever via a painter's ladder. Another student fed the fire in the balloon with straw and sticks. Meanwhile, the professor himself operated the bellows.

Despite this unique spectacle, there was some disappointment among the public in the street

_Soon the balloon filled with floating gases and now the remaining three students had to get to work. It was their task to keep the balloon tethered to the ground with ropes. Then the professor's signal finally sounded: 'Let go the lines!' And there, for the first time in history, an air balloon flew through Franeker airspace! _

The contraption rose quietly a distance above the houses. There the wind caught the balloon and carried it towards the Martinikerk. Despite this unique spectacle, there was some disappointment among the public in the street. In recent days, a couple of dreamers had claimed that the professor himself would ascend with his balloon like a knight among the stars. But the learned man was too wise for that. Together with his students, he preferred to follow the contraption on foot.

Via the Lijnbaan and the Breedplaats it went to the Martinikerk where the balloon flew gracefully over. Then the gentlemen followed their airship through the Kerksteeg to the Coudal. There they saw the balloon disappear behind the house of the silversmith Andringa. And in this man's garden they eventually found the charred remains of their vessel. One can certainly count themselves fortunate that this fiery contraption did not hit any flammable roofs.