Abel Tasman was born in the little village Lutjegast in the Netherlands in 1603. Nowadays there is a road in Lutjegast called after him and the house where he was believed to live is still a functional farm called "Tassemaheerd". His first wife was called Claesgie Heyndrix, who he had a daughter with, Claesjen. In December 1631 he married again, this time with Jannetje (Joanna) Tjaerts, a 21 year old girl.

In 1634 Abel Tasman joined the Dutch East India and he became first mate of the Weesp, one of the company's ships. Later that year he became skipper on the Mocha.

With this ship he patrolled in the Dutch East Indies). On one of his voyages, three men were killed and after returning in Batavia, Tasman got a new job. He had to transport cargo and booty in the north-west pacific. A high death toll through diseases was normal and the Dutch ships weren't seaworthy.

On November 24, 1642, he discovered an island, previously unknown to all but its inhabitants. He named it Van Diemen's Land. It was still called by that name during the days when England used Australia as a prison colony, and so there are many folksongs from the time which refer to being transported to Van Diemen's Land. (The Irish rock band U2 even did a song by that name in the late 1980s.)

Abel Tasman's First Voyage

Abel Tasman's Second Voyage

In 1644 Abel Tasman became skipper commander and later he became member of the council of Justice in Batavia. By 1653 he retired and owned 288 acres of land near Batavia. He died in October 1659.

Background to Tasman's Two Voyages: 1642 and 1644

Pool was directed to sail to Arnhemland, then eastward across the expanse of water to the coastline explored by the Duyfken and the Pera and Arnhem. This coast was believed to be an extension of New Guinea, as notes of Torres' passage (1607) through Torres Strait remained buried in Spanish archives.

Pool was to sail south along this coast to discover its nature. It was possible that the expedition would sail into Pieter Nuyts Land (identified and named, during the cruise of the Gulden Zeepaert in 1627), then on to Houtman's Abrolhos. Pool was then to sail along the coast where Pelsaert had marooned his mutineers and collect them, if found. Additionally, Pool should locate Trial Rocks and better define them, before returning to Batavia. All the while, reports of watering and refreshing locations should be made.

Pool's expedition ended prematurely with his death, shortly after its start.

Following the abortive Pool cruise, van Dieman was not dissuaded. His plans become equally ambitious in other directions. In 1639 he sent another expedition, this time into the North Pacific, toward Japan to search for reputed shores of gold and silver. Two ships were outfitted and dispatched under the command of Matthijs Quast. The captain of one ship was Quast and of the other was Abel Tasman. The results of the effort were relatively insignificant and the ships returned with a loss of 41 men from a complement of 90. Scurvy was the great problem. However, Quast's and Tasman's journals convinced the Company Directors there were possibilities worthy of further exploration in the region.

In addition to the very supportive administration (van Dieman), the Dutch had a most capable theoretical geographer in Frans Visscher. Visscher reviewed the known regions and competently designed the scope for expeditions to solve the great southland problem and support Dutch interests in the region.

Visscher envisioned a search for the great southland which would track eastward from Mauritius at 52 or 54 degrees south latitude.

• If no land were encountered by the longitude of the east side of New Guinea, the track should turn north by west and encounter New Guinea, then return to Java.
• Alternatively, the eastward run could continue to the longitude of the Solomon Islands, then turn north to discover them, then return across the northern side of New Guinea.
• Other strategies included expeditions across the southern Atlantic and refreshing ports at Chile, enabling close scrutiny of the region above 50 degrees south latitude.

Tasman's First Voyage: 1642

van Dieman, the administrative support,
Visscher, the strategy developer, and
Tasman, the seaman and navigator

an expedition was implemented. Tasman was given two ships (the Heemskerck and Zeehaen) and the following instruction.

Sail first to Mauritius, then south into 52 or 54 degrees south latitude, searching for the southern continent. Turn east and travel into the longitude of the eastern edge of New Guinea or of the Solomon Islands. If it was believed prudent and with possible rewards, Tasman could sail east only to the longitude of the islands of St Francis and St Peter, then north to meet them, then eastward along the coast to determine its extent. Along this coast he should turn north if there proved to be a channel through it. Once through the channel, Tasman should head west to locate the coast of the southland, leading him northward to the land called Eendrachtsland. Seeming unlikely a channel would lead Tasman toward Eendrachtsland, greater weight was placed on continued eastern passage. Should it seem logical, Tasman could continue to the Chilean coast, discovering an advantageous route by which Dutch interests could snatch trade from the Spanish in this world region. In any event, Tasman should use the southeast trade winds to make for the Solomon Islands from his most easterly reach. Finally, as Tasman coasted the northern side of New Guinea, he should seek a southerly passage through it, which would take him to Cape Keerweer and on eastward to Eendrachstsland.

Tasman was not to let on the importance placed on silver and gold, should he encounter possible trading sources, and he was to treat all natives encountered in the most friendly and unintimidating manner possible.

With Visscher on board, Tasman sailed for Mauritius from Batavia on 14 August 1642. There he refitted his ships and set off on the course described on 8 October.

Intending to sail eastward at the southern latitude of 52 or 54 degrees, it became evident early on that weather would not permit this. It was decided to sail along the 44th and 40th parallels and as the two ships reached the longitude of the islands of St Peter and St Francis, there appeared no intention of following the southern coast of PeterNuyts Land east. Instead the ships stayed more south until sighting Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) in late November.

Variable weather made exploration of the eastern coast of Van Dieman's Land difficult. Seeking shelter in a large bay, Tasman put into a cove he called Storm Bay.

A later explorer misread Tasman's notes and called this bay Adventure Bay and the larger bay was called Storm Bay.

On the 1st of December quieter water and storm abatement allowed the ships to anchor at Green Island and put ashore for supplies at what is now known as Blackman's Bay. Later a crew member posted a Dutch flag, claiming possession. Not finding good water, Tasman moved his ships northward on December 4th to search for it. Quickly the shore fell away to the northwest and the weather was coming in directly from the north. Tasman decided to quit this island and continue east.

On the 13th of December he saw land again, having reached the shore of the south island of New Zealand. The following sea and weather identify this shore as one treacherous to unwary sailors. Tasman was not this and worked north until able to round the point Cook would later call Cape Farewell and anchoring in quieter water inside the western end of Cook's Strait.

Tasman called this anchorage Murderer's Bay for the incident which followed. One of the Dutch small boats was rammed by a native (Maori) canoe and three Dutchmen killed. Little other of consequence occurred, except that Tasman determined he would be unable to make friendly terms with the local population. After sailing east, Tasman determined he was in the mouth of a great bay and he had a strong, following wind. He turned west and then north along the western coast of the North Island, then past (and naming) Cape Maria van Dieman, the northwest tip of the North Island.

It appears Tasman was not wholly convinced he had been in a bay and that perhaps on leaving Murderer's Bay there was exit to the east and on to Chile. Resolution of the channel between the two islands was made by Cook in 1769.

Tasman named this land Staaten Landt, on the belief it may be a continuation of that land originally called such by Le Maire.

Tasman's need for fresh water increased as he left this new land. His ship's committee agreed to run north and eastward to 17 degrees South latitude and locate islands described earlier by Le Maire. In the track Tasman encountered four islands on 19 January 1643. These islands were of the Tonga group, where he was able to obtain water. Cook would call these the Friendly Islands and Tasman was treated well by the natives.

Determined that he was well enough east of Le Maire's islands, Tasman sailed northwest to locate them. On the 6th of February he found himself amidst many islands and water breaking over shoals. He was in the Fiji group and these islands did not appear on his maps. Islands recorded as being 800 miles to the west caused Tasman to question his position. The long cruise may have lead to compiled miscalculations which caused him to think he was in a place differently from where he actually was. This issue lead Tasman to decide to return to Batavia and the ship's committee agreed.

Should he sail west and south of the known portion of the island of New Guinea? This route was unknown and carried the danger of being blown against a shore from which it would be too difficult to retreat. The alternative was to take the known (and safe) northerly track past New Guinea. Worsening weather and the skepticism over the ship's position made the decision obvious for Tasman and Visscher. They would take the northerly route.

For nearly two weeks the overcast weather made it impossible for Tasman to take positioning sites to determine his location. The weather had been wet throughout February and most of March and the contingent was relieved when the winds changed and conditions brightened. At the end of March land was sighted and Tasman named the multitude of islands Ontong Java. On April 1st Tasman rounded Cape Santa Maria, which was believed to be an extension from the island of New Guinea, until Dampier determined it was part of the island group he recognized as New Britain. Tasman was now in waters well enough known by Dutch sea captains and knew how to return to Batavia.

However, Tasman had been tasked at the outset of the voyage with exploring the north coast of New Guinea (should he reach it) and seeking a passage through it and south to Cape Keerweer. There is no such passage and at the end of May Tasman reached the western edge of New Guinea. From there, he sailed back to Batavia, arriving on 14 June, ending his 10 month voyage.

Though this voyage was spectacular by the reckoning of Dutch exploration in the period, it was deemed to have been relatively fruitless and created little excitement for the Dutch East India Company. There were no new trading partnerships opened and there were no major resource treasures found, which would enhance the company. Furthermore, Tasman had not proven passage through the south ocean to Chile as was originally outlined, though reaching east from Cape Maria Van Dieman did seem promising. However, the sailing skills of Tasman and the strategies of Visscher were significantly highly regarded that both men figured in further Dutch exploration planning.

Tasman's Second Voyage: 1644

Uninhibited by the war was an interest in resolving several issues around New Guinea and New Holland and Tasman and Visscher were outfitted with three ships, Limmen, Zeemeuw and Bracq and sent in February 1644.

The exploration was to examine the bay on the southern side of New Guinea by anchoring on the western coast of the northern part of what is now Cape York (Australia) and send the Bracq eastward into the bay and search for passage into the south sea. Next, Tasman was to sail south along the west coast [Cape York Peninsula] and follow the coast to determine if it would open into the south sea. He was to determine if Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania) was the southern part of New Guinea or a part of Pieter Nuyts Land or an island. If he should reach Van Dieman's Land through such a channel, Tasman was to sail to St Francis and St Peter, then westward and northward along the west coast of New Holland to the end of Eendrachtsland.

However, if there was no passage south from the starting point near New Guinea, then Tasman should follow the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria wherever it may lead. Should it lead westward to the Abrolhos, Tasman should try to locate the sunken chest from the Batavia then northward to look for the men marooned by Pelsaert and to find a watering place for ships bound to Batavia from Europe. Tasman should then sail into Arnhem Land and determine its geography and nature, before finally locating islands between Timor and New Holland.

Little is known of the actual voyage, except that the northern coast line was followed as it now is mapped today. From Eendrachtsland Tasman returned to Batavia in August 1644. He had sailed the coast, but had done little exploration of the land he passed. Tasman had noted the miserable existence of the natives along the coast, but had not sought gold and silver or trade possibilities the land would offer.

The Dutch East Indies Company, which sponsored Tasman's voyage necessarily responded to the stockholders and Tasman's travel had used money and returned nothing of stockholder interest. Tasman's efforts were not regarded highly by the Company.

For more information on Abel Janszoon Tasman, go to:

• Abel Janszoon Tasman
• Abel Tasman (by Voyage of Exploration)
• Abel Tasman