Admiral de Ruyter

By Ferdinand Bol. Wikipedia entry on this national hero of the Netherlands here

It says

De Ruyter was highly respected by his sailors and soldiers, who used the term of endearment Bestevaêr ("Granddad") for him, both because of his disregard for hierarchy (he was himself of humble origin) and his refusal to back away from risky and bold undertakings despite his usually cautious nature.

Also see

Commons wikimedia Anglo-Dutch wars