Willem Barentsz

Willem Barentsz, also known as William Barents or Barentz, was a Dutch navigator, cartographer, and Arctic explorer. He lived from around 1550 until 20 June 1597.

Barentsz made three voyages to the far north looking for a sea route called the Northeast passage. On his first two trips, he got as far as Novaya Zemlya and the Kara Sea but could not go further because of ice. On his third voyage, his crew found new lands named Spitsbergen and Bear Island. Sadly, they got stuck on Novaya Zemlya for almost a whole year. Barentsz passed away during the journey home in 1597.

Many places, such as the Barents Sea, are named to honor his explorations.

Life and career

Willem Barentsz was born around 1550 in the village Formerum on the island Terschelling in the Seventeen Provinces, present-day Netherlands. He was a cartographer and sailor who worked to make maps of faraway places.

Barentsz wanted to find a new sea route called the Northeast passage to trade with China. He thought there might be open water north of Siberia because the sun shone for 24 hours a day there, melting the ice.

On his first trip in 1594, Barentsz sailed from Texel on a ship called the Mercury. He saw a large animal called a polar bear and tried to catch it, but it had to be stopped. He also saw many sea animals called walruses and tried to collect their tusks.

In his second trip in 1595, Barentsz sailed with more ships, but bad weather made the sea too frozen to continue. This trip did not reach its goal.

During his third trip in 1596, Barentsz and his team got stuck in ice near Novaya Zemlya. They had to stay there through the winter and build a shelter from parts of their ship. They faced very cold weather and had to hunt animals for food. In June 1597, Barentsz became ill and died. The survivors of his crew were later found and saved by another ship.

Excavation and findings

In 1871, a Norwegian seal hunter named Elling Carlsen found the old building still standing. He made sketches and noted many items inside, such as cooking pots, a barrel, tools, a clock, and clothing.

More items were taken from the site in the 1870s. In 1875, Captain Gunderson collected maps and a handwritten note about the explorers’ journey. In 1876, Charles Gardiner gathered over 100 objects, including a message for future visitors. These discoveries were later kept in museums in Amsterdam and other places.

In the 1930s and 1970s, more searches were done. Objects found were placed in museums in Russia and Norway.

Commemoration and legacy

In 1992, scientists, a journalist, and photographers went back to the place where Willem Barentsz spent the winter. They put up a marker to remember him.

The spot where Barentsz stayed has become a popular place for special ships to visit.

Two of Barentsz' crew members wrote about their adventures. One was Jan Huyghen van Linschoten, and the other was Gerrit de Veer.

In 1853, a sea was named the Barents Sea to honor Barentsz. Places like Barentsburg, Barentsøya (Barents Island), and the Barents Region were also named after him.

A school named after Barentsz opened in the late 1800s.

In 1878, a ship called the Willem Barentsz was built for Arctic exploration.

In 1931, a play about Barentsz' last voyage was written but never performed.

In 2011, a movie called Nova Zembla was made. It was the first Dutch 3D movie.

In 2011, people in the town of Harlingen started building a copy of Barentsz' ship. They wanted to finish it by 2018 for a big ship event.