Nicolas Corneliszoon Witsen

A descendant of the successful Dutch business family, Nicolas was an important figure in the political, economic and cultural relations between the Netherlands and Russia in the 17th century.

A burgomaster of Amsterdam and general director of the East India Company, Nicolas Corneliszoon Witsen was a member of the Dutch embassy to Muscovy during which he developed interest for unexplored expanses toward the Russian East. He wrote and published several books on Russia, as well as the first map of Siberia (1687). His expertise in shipbuilding on which he wrote a book in 1671, brought him into contact with the Russian Tsar Peter the Great, who was interested to build a fleet inspired by European standards. Interestingly, Witsen was a person that is credited with arranging an incognito apprenticeship for the Tsar Peter the Great at the shipyards of Amsterdam and Zaandam during which the tsar learned all about the functioning of the international harbor. Witsen continued to serve the Russian ruler with his advices and knowledge until his final days and contributed to westernization of Russia under tsar Peter the Great.