Johannes van Walbeeck

Johannes van Walbeeck was a Dutch explorer who became the first governor of the Netherlands Antilles.

Born in Amsterdam, Johannes was educated at the University of Leiden before he joined the ship De Amsterdam during the three year circumnavigation of the world (1623-1626). In 1629 he entered the service of the Dutch West India Company. Soon afterwards he was made a member of the Politieke Raad ("Political Council"), the highest level of government in Dutch Brazil and the “Admiral of the Brazilian coast”.

Van Walbeeck was appointed a head of the expedition which aim was to establish a Dutch base on the Chilean coast which is meant to serve as a starting point for the exploration of Terra Australis. However, the expedition failed due to the colonial conflicts between Holland and Portugal.

In 1634 van Walbeeck led another expedition to seize the strategic island of Curacao controlled by the Spanish Venezuela for a century and which was conquered without losses. Therefore, he became the first governor of the Netherlands Antilles. During his three years governorship were built the foundations of the town of Willemstad in the harbor of Curacao, next to the Fort Amsterdam.