Joris van Spilbergen facts for kids
Joris van Spilbergen (born in 1568, died in 1620) was an important Dutch sailor and explorer in the 1600s. He led many exciting trips across the oceans. His first big adventure was in 1596, when he sailed all the way to Africa.
Sailing to Asia
In 1601, Joris van Spilbergen started a long journey to Asia. He left on May 5th, leading a group of ships for a trading company called Moucheron. This company was important before the bigger Dutch East India Company was created. His ships had interesting names: the Ram, the Schaap, and the Lam.
In 1602, Spilbergen reached Kandy, a kingdom in what is now Sri Lanka. There, he met King Vimala Dharma Suriya. They talked about trading spices, especially cinnamon. Cinnamon was very valuable back then!
The Battle of Gibraltar
In 1607, Spilbergen sailed on a ship called the Aeolus. He joined another famous Dutch sailor, Jacob van Heemskerk. Together, they took part in a big sea fight known as the Battle of Gibraltar. This battle was an important event in history.
Exploring the Pacific
One of Spilbergen's most famous trips began in 1614. He sailed past the Strait of Magellan, a narrow waterway at the bottom of South America. After passing through, he explored the coast of California. At that time, this area had Spanish settlements.
From 1578, places like El Quisco, Algarrobo, and El Canelo were known as secret spots for pirates. Famous English pirates like Francis Drake and Thomas Cavendish used these places. Dutch pirates, including Olivier van Noort and Joris van Spilbergen himself, also hid there. Spilbergen had some fights with Spanish leaders like Sebastián Vizcaíno and Nicolás de Cardona during his time in the Pacific. He finally returned home to Holland in 1617.
Later Life
Joris van Spilbergen died in 1620 in a town called Bergen op Zoom. Even though he had been a famous explorer, he passed away without much money.
See also
In Spanish: Joris van Spilbergen para niños
