Returning home: a hero's welcome

Having finally left the Behouden Huys in June 1597, the men used the two remaining vessels to return to the United Provinces. After a perilous voyage of six weeks, further marred by disease, they eventually arrived at a Russian fishing village. The locals - the first other human beings the survivors had encountered for thirteen months - provided the crew with food. Several days later, eating plants containing Vitamin C cured the men of scurvy. Although the vessels did not reach Amsterdam until October, the final months were relatively carefree.

Willem Barentsz and four others, however, died on the return voyage.

Illustration 9. The survivors of Novaya Zemlya, who had been presumed dead by the anxious public in the United Provinces, received a hero's welcome in Amsterdam. In this picture, Van Heemskerck is welcomed by one of the Amsterdam burgomasters.

The expedition had been a failure. The North-East Passage to Asia had not been found, whereas the first Dutch expedition around the Cape of Good Hope had meanwhile been very successful. De Veer nevertheless proudly described the amazement of the Amsterdam population once they realized the crew had spent the entire winter at Novaya Zemlya. The final words of his narrative are reserved for a mention of the names of the survivors:

Jacob van Heemskerck, merchant and ship's captain.
Pieter Pietersz. Vos
Gerrit de Veer
Mr. Hans Vos, barber.
Jacob Jansz. Sterrenburch
Lenaert Hendricksz.
Laurens Willemsz.
Jan Hildebrantsz.
Jacob Jansz. Hoogwoud
Pieter Cornelisz.
Jan van Buysen
Jacob Evertsz.

Immediately after returning to Amsterdam, De Veer's account was published by the bookseller >Cornelis Claesz. The instant popularity of this eye-witness report provided the first step towards the national Dutch >myth of Novaya Zemlya.



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	Returning home: a hero's welcome Having finally left the Behouden Huys in June 1597, the men used the two remaining vessels to return to the United Provinces. After a perilous voyage of six weeks, further marred by disease, they eventually arrived at a Russian fishing village. The locals - the first other human beings the survivors had encountered for thirteen months - provided the crew with food. Several days later, eating plants containing Vitamin C cured the men of scurvy. Although the vessels did not reach Amsterdam until October, the final months were relatively carefree. Willem Barentsz and four others, however, died on the return voyage. Illustration 9. The survivors of Novaya Zemlya, who had been presumed dead by the anxious public in the United Provinces, received a hero's welcome in Amsterdam. In this picture, Van Heemskerck is welcomed by one of the Amsterdam burgomasters. The expedition had been a failure. The North-East Passage to Asia had not been found, whereas the first Dutch expedition around the Cape of Good Hope had meanwhile been very successful. De Veer nevertheless proudly described the amazement of the Amsterdam population once they realized the crew had spent the entire winter at Novaya Zemlya. The final words of his narrative are reserved for a mention of the names of the survivors: Jacob van Heemskerck, merchant and ship's captain. Pieter Pietersz. Vos Gerrit de Veer Mr. Hans Vos, barber. Jacob Jansz. Sterrenburch Lenaert Hendricksz. Laurens Willemsz. Jan Hildebrantsz. Jacob Jansz. Hoogwoud Pieter Cornelisz. Jan van Buysen Jacob Evertsz. Immediately after returning to Amsterdam, De Veer's account was published by the bookseller >Cornelis Claesz. The instant popularity of this eye-witness report provided the first step towards the national Dutch >myth of Novaya Zemlya.