Disagreements among geographers

Two conflicting views on how to reach Asia via the North were expressed in the Dutch Republic.

Jan Huygen van Linschoten, the first Dutchman to travel to Asia - the learned geographer Petrus Plancius

#Jan Huygen van Linschoten, the first Dutchman to travel to Asia, as a crew-member of a Portuguese campaign in the 1580s, had received wide acclaim for his ground-breaking Itinerario, the account of his experiences in and around the Indian city of Goa. This book of Asian peoples and their customs remained the cornerstone of Dutch mercantile relations to Asia until well into the 17th century. Van Linschoten asserted that the North-East Passage to Asia could be found by navigating through the so-called Waijgats Strait, just south of the island of Novaya Zemlya.

The learned geographer Petrus Plancius however stated that by passing through the Waijgats Strait, one would merely reach an inland sea, currently known as the Kara Sea. He expected to find the North-East Passage by rounding Novaya Zemlya on the north, thus avoiding the Kara Sea on the island's south side.

Illustration 2. This map of 1595 depicts geographical knowledge before the voyage of Barentsz and Van Heemskerck. The west coast of Novaya Zemlya has been meticulously mapped, while the east coast has yet to be charted. At the time of printing, the situation of the Kara Sea - inland sea or open water - was still unclear.

The first Dutch expedition to Asia left from the island of Texel in June 1594. Two ships under the command of Willem Barentsz, following the route which Plancius had proposed, reached the northernmost point of Novaya Zemlya, but had to return due to the impenetrability of the ice. Two other ships, which had taken Van Linschoten's route, discovered that the Kara Sea was not an inland sea, and could therefore well be the gateway to Asia. All four ships returned safely to the Dutch Republic.

The second expedition (1595) built on the success of the discoveries of the first, following the route Van Linschoten had mapped out, through Waijgats Strait. No less than seven vessels were equipped with money and commodities for the Asian market, as the Dutch now expected to reach the Far East. To the huge disappointment of the navigators, the freezing temperatures made the Kara Sea impenetrable, unlike the previous year. The fleet was forced to return to Amsterdam.

Illustration 3. Representation of the second Dutch expedition to find a Northern route to Asia. The fleet of seven ships is seen entering Waijgats Strait, into the Kara Sea - here called 'Nier Mare'. The southernmost point of Novaya Zemlya is depicted in the top-half of the engraving.

Only Plancius and Barentsz were prepared to make one more attempt to find a North-East Passage. Since investors were predictably wary, capital was raised for only two ships. Barentsz was to be accompanied by the equally experienced Jacob van Heemskerck. In May 1596, the third expedition led by >Barentsz and Van Heemskerck left Amsterdam, aiming to round Novaya Zemlya on the north, the route which Plancius had devised in 1594.



Novaya Zemlya Home Introduction Finding a route Disagreements among geographers Barentsz and Van Heemskerck De Veer's eye-witness account Het Behouden Huys Returning home: a hero's welcome Publishing matters: Cornelis Claesz International interest Archaeological remains The myth of Novaya Zemlya Quiz Bibliography Feedback form Copyright Study Pack Home Dutch Home	Disagreements among geographers Two conflicting views on how to reach Asia via the North were expressed in the Dutch Republic. #Jan Huygen van Linschoten, the first Dutchman to travel to Asia, as a crew-member of a Portuguese campaign in the 1580s, had received wide acclaim for his ground-breaking Itinerario, the account of his experiences in and around the Indian city of Goa. This book of Asian peoples and their customs remained the cornerstone of Dutch mercantile relations to Asia until well into the 17th century. Van Linschoten asserted that the North-East Passage to Asia could be found by navigating through the so-called Waijgats Strait, just south of the island of Novaya Zemlya. The learned geographer Petrus Plancius however stated that by passing through the Waijgats Strait, one would merely reach an inland sea, currently known as the Kara Sea. He expected to find the North-East Passage by rounding Novaya Zemlya on the north, thus avoiding the Kara Sea on the island's south side. Illustration 2. This map of 1595 depicts geographical knowledge before the voyage of Barentsz and Van Heemskerck. The west coast of Novaya Zemlya has been meticulously mapped, while the east coast has yet to be charted. At the time of printing, the situation of the Kara Sea - inland sea or open water - was still unclear. The first Dutch expedition to Asia left from the island of Texel in June 1594. Two ships under the command of Willem Barentsz, following the route which Plancius had proposed, reached the northernmost point of Novaya Zemlya, but had to return due to the impenetrability of the ice. Two other ships, which had taken Van Linschoten's route, discovered that the Kara Sea was not an inland sea, and could therefore well be the gateway to Asia. All four ships returned safely to the Dutch Republic. The second expedition (1595) built on the success of the discoveries of the first, following the route Van Linschoten had mapped out, through Waijgats Strait. No less than seven vessels were equipped with money and commodities for the Asian market, as the Dutch now expected to reach the Far East. To the huge disappointment of the navigators, the freezing temperatures made the Kara Sea impenetrable, unlike the previous year. The fleet was forced to return to Amsterdam. Illustration 3. Representation of the second Dutch expedition to find a Northern route to Asia. The fleet of seven ships is seen entering Waijgats Strait, into the Kara Sea - here called 'Nier Mare'. The southernmost point of Novaya Zemlya is depicted in the top-half of the engraving. Only Plancius and Barentsz were prepared to make one more attempt to find a North-East Passage. Since investors were predictably wary, capital was raised for only two ships. Barentsz was to be accompanied by the equally experienced Jacob van Heemskerck. In May 1596, the third expedition led by >Barentsz and Van Heemskerck left Amsterdam, aiming to round Novaya Zemlya on the north, the route which Plancius had devised in 1594.