WILLEM BARENTS 

Willem Barents was a Dutch navigator born in 1550 in the Netherlands.  Although a wonderful man, he was best known for making three different voyages going from Amsterdam to Asia, searching for a northeast passage.  The first voyage occurred in the summer of 1594 where he reached the extremity of Novaya Zemlya.  From there, the charts he maintained show that he traveled northward.  However, upon reaching the northern extremity, he was forced to turn back home. 

For Barents’ second trip, he took a full expedition with him to include seven vessels, heading out the following year in 1595.  This time, they headed for the strait located between the Asiatic coast and Vaygach Island.  Unfortunately, they had headed out on this voyage too late in the year to find open water.  Finally, his third voyage began in 1596.  This time, his expedition discovered Bear Island and Spitsbergen, which today is known as Svalbard. 

At that time, the two vessels separated with the intention of performing independent explorations.  On the first vessel was Barents with his crew but after heading to the north area of Novaya Zemlya, they were confronted with heavy ice, compelling them to spend winter in the north.  Since his ship was not released until early 1597, Barents’ party left the area in two open boats in June.  Unfortunately, problems arose and while the majority of crew escaped, Barents died two weeks later. 

Then in 1871, the house where Willem Barents had stayed during those cold, winter months was discovered.  Better yet, within the house were a number of relics that today, are preserved and on display at The Hague.  However, another great discovery would be made when just four years later, his journal was found.  Because of the three voyages Willem Barents made in 1594, 1596, and then again in 1597, Barents Island located in the Svalbard archipelago was named after him. 

In addition, with his extensive explorations and accuracy of charts for each of his voyages, Barents is still considered today as one of the most important of all arctic explorers, leaving valuable information for others who followed.  In fact, the meteorological data he collected and used is still consulted today for other people sailing this area of the world.  Today, the Barents Sea in the Arctic is named after this magnificent Dutch navigator.