Willem Barentsz
Dutch explorer and cartographer
Born
1550
475 years ago
Died
June 20th, 1597
427 years ago — 47 years old
Category
Explorers & Adventurers
Country
Netherlands
Links & References
An explorer and cartographer from the Netherlands, contributed to the exploration of the Arctic regions. Led multiple trips to the northern areas, including expeditions in search of a Northeast Passage. The third expedition in 1596 resulted in the discovery of Spitsbergen and the adjacent waters. Died during the fourth expedition, but navigational and geographical knowledge gathered during these journeys laid foundational information for subsequent explorers.
Led expeditions to the Arctic regions
Discovered Spitsbergen
Created maps of northern waters
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