Beside the quay is an English flyboat that, from her shape, was probably Dutch-built. A royal yacht is arriving on the left and this has prompted the firing of the salute. On the extreme left is the stern of a Dutch ship. On the quay two bales of stores or goods with clear cargo markings have been positioned in the foreground. Men are involved in loading up small craft, a horse is dragging a barrel on skids to the water's edge and there are several groups of gentlemen and women observing the activities. A guard stands outside a sentry box in the gateway. From 1673 Knyff's output appears to have been mostly British coastal or river scenes, with increasing emphasis on accurate and colourful depiction of the great ships of the Stuart navy. Although Dutch-born he came to England when Charles II issued a general invitation to Dutch artists and craftsmen to work in England in 1672. Although the two countries were at war, patronage for artists in Holland had diminished and a number took advantage of this offer, including the van de Veldes and Knyff. This signed work came to light in 1972 and provided the first definitive identification of Knyff's artistic hand. It is a sophisticated painting with accurate ships depicted. It is also a relatively late example of a tradition in Netherlandish art of such waterfront compositions which, real or imaginary, provided an obvious focus for scenes of varied incident.