Yes, in the late 16th-throughout the 17th c. the Dutch were the kings of the seas. It can be said that 2 out of every 5 ships on high seas at that time were Dutch. Somehow it all fizzled out.
Have you seen this film yet? I don't know if there's an English-subtitled version yet, but I'd love to see it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqXSFdFxvl8
Perhaps the chest you showed above came from the Barentsz expedition to find the Northern Passage to Asia? Still a treacherous way to travel now. The ice-free navigation period is very short. One has to have immense respect for the travelers of old.