De Baarsjes in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Jan Mayen Island
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 16, 2023
1. Jan Mayen Island Marker
Jan Mayen is a volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean. The island consists of two parts, connected by a narrow tongue of land, partially covered by glaciers and vegetation consisting of tundra plants. The island is named after Jan Jacobsz May van Schellinckhout, who in 1614 visited the then unknown island with the ship the Gouden Cath (“Golden Cat”). Also on board was the famous cartographer Joris Carolus, who was the first to put the island on the map.
Erected by Geef Straten Een Gezicht.
Topics and series. This historical marker
this page online
Location. 52° 22.263′ N, 4° 51.086′ E. Marker is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in De Baarsjes. Marker is at the intersection of Jan Maijenstraat and Torresstraat, on the left when traveling east on Jan Maijenstraat. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Jan Maijenstraat 52, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1056 EG, Netherlands. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Gerardus Mercator (within shouting distance of this marker); Ernest Henry Shackleton (about 180 meters away, measured in a direct line); Henry Hudson (about 180 meters away); Pedro Àlvares Cabral (about 210 meters away); Abraham Ortelius (approx. 0.2 kilometers away); Amerigo Vespucci (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); George Vancouver (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Johan Evertsen (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amsterdam.
Also see . . . Jan Mayen (Wikipedia).
Overview: Jan Mayen is a Norwegian volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean with no permanent population. It is 55 km (34 mi) long (southwest-northeast)(Submitted on October 6, 2023.)and 373 km2 (144 sq mi) in area, partly covered by glaciers (an area of 114.2 km2 (44.1 sq mi) around the Beerenberg volcano…Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 17, 20232. Jan Mayen Island Marker - wide view
First verified discoveries - mapping and naming: The first verified discoveries of Jan Mayen, by three separate expeditions, occurred in the summer of 1614, probably within one month of each other. The Dutchman Fopp Gerritsz, whilst in command of a whaling expedition sent out by the Englishman John Clarke, of Dunkirk, claimed (in 1631) to have discovered the island on 28 June and named it "Isabella". In January the Noordsche Compagnie (Northern Company), modelled on the Dutch East India Company, had been established to support Dutch whaling in the Arctic. Two of its ships, financed by merchants from Amsterdam and Enkhuizen, reached Jan Mayen in July 1614. The captains of these ships — Jan Jacobszoon May van Schellinkhout (after whom the island was ultimately named) on the Gouden Cath (Golden Cat), and Jacob de Gouwenaer on the Orangienboom (Orange Tree) — named it Mr. Joris Eylant after the Dutch cartographer Joris Carolus who was on board and mapped the island. The captains acknowledged that a third Dutch ship, the Cleyn Swaentgen (Little Swan) captained by Jan Jansz Kerckhoff and financed by Noordsche Compagnie shareholders from Delft, had already been at the island when they arrived. They had assumed the latter, who named the island Maurits Eylandt (or Mauritius) after Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, would report their discovery to the States General. However, the Delft merchants had decided to keep the discovery secret and returned in 1615 to hunt for their own profit. The ensuing dispute was only settled in 1617, though both companies were allowed to whale at Jan Mayen in the meantime.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 40 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 6, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
