Born c. 1550, Terschelling Island, The Netherlands
Died June 20, 1597, Barents Sea

During the sixteenth century the great maritime powers of Spain and Portugal largely controlled the trade routes to Africa and Asia. The country we now call the Netherlands was also a significant trading nation at that time, with a powerful merchant class and superb sailing vessels. Rather than force their way through established southern trade routes, the Dutch were interested in finding a northern water route that would take them to the Orient. Thus they began a series of journeys designed to sail north of Eurasia—into what was called the Northeast Passage—and then south into the Pacific Ocean, to China and India. Dutch navigator Willem Barents piloted three such expeditions during the 1590s. The hardships he and fellow crew members endured during their final journey discouraged all but the most hardy explorers...