Many types of cargo vessel have been found during archaeological research in the IJsselmeer polders. They range from Late Medieval cogs to a number of iron ships from the early 20th century.

We can broadly distinguish the following groups:

- (Late) Medieval cogs
- cargo ships with clinker hulls, mostly from the 15th and 16th century
- cargo vessels of 20 to 100 tons, mainly types of tjalk, aak or praam
- small barges
- several large seagoing cargo ships.

The ships used to transport a wide variety of cargo, but mainly:

- fuel such as peat, coal and firewood,
- construction materials such as bricks, shells, timber, roof tiles, lime,
- agricultural products such as grain, hay, potatoes etc.

They also transported livestock, general cargo, manure and city waste.

Cargo vessels | Water ships