Tradewind is a Dutch topsail schooner. She was built in the Netherlands in 1911 as a herring lugger named Sophie Theresia. Sophie Theresia was built in 1911 by Van der Vuijk shipyard, Capelle aan de IJssel, Netherlands. She is 37 metres (121 ft) in length overall, with a beam of 6.6 metres (22 ft), and a draught of 2.9 metres (9 ft 6 in). The hull was constructed from riveted steel plates, with wooden decking and ketch rigging. The vessel originally operated out of Katwijk, fishing the North Sea. An engine was fitted in the 1930s. The vessel was refitted for cargo carrying in 1957, with hold hatches widened and a new engine fitted. She was renamed Aaltje en Willem, and carried cargo between the Netherlands and several small North Sea ports.