Realeneiland, initially known as the Back Island, was eventually renamed after the family Reael, who owned much of its land, and is surrounded by the Zoutkeetsgracht, Westerdokseiland, the Realengracht and the Smallepad canals.
From 1617 onward, the island provided cheap land to herring fishermen from outside the city. On the Zandhoek, the side that used to face the IJ (and now protected by the Westerdok and the Westerdoksdijk), used to stand a herring packing facility built by the family Reael in 1648. It featured a plaque with the Golden Real, a Spanish/ Portuguese currency in use at the time and embedded with an image of Emperor Charles 5, and which in the early 17th century, similar to the US dollar in the more recent past, could be used to make purchases all over the world. It still made enough impression in the 20th century for this island to be renamed after it.
The landowner Reynier Reael had the right to inherit subcontract shipbuilders’ rights to ships. The latter did not have to pay rent on his land for the first twelve, but had to build a ship instead. Moreover, Reael built new housing, which was something the city frequently opposed. In 1664, the Joseph Deutz Tar Company was permitted to build a large shipyard on the Realeneiland. In 1673, a turf market was added. Along the Zandhoek, sand was stored. It was used as ship ballast as well as in raising the streetlevels in central Amsterdam neighborhoods. Walk 20 to 30 meters down the Realengracht and look across the canal: you may be lucky to have spotted the Yellow Submarine moored in front of one of the houses along the Bickersgracht. In all likelihood it belongs to the owners of the house directly in front of it and, probably, serves as their houseboat.
The warehouse was demolished around 1780 by the shipbuilder Haring Booy. For many years Realeneiland was also home to the tobacco industry (BATCO). The island is featured in the books by Jan Mens about the Golden Reael. A row of impressive thirteen captain houses can still be observed on the island.