Jan Carel Joseph van Speijk was a Dutch naval officer born on February 18, 1801, in Amsterdam. He is best known for his heroic actions during the Belgian Revolution in 1831, where he commanded the Dutch warship HNLMS Nijl. On February 5, 1831, van Speijk famously chose to blow up his ship rather than let it fall into enemy hands. This act of defiance made him a national hero in the Netherlands, symbolizing bravery and loyalty. His legacy is remembered in various memorials and historical accounts of the period.