governor, the first European known to have seen the coast of Australia (1606) Cornelis Nay, explorer of the Arctic Henry Hudson (c. 1565–1611), Englishman who sailed to the Arctic for the Dutch East India Company Colonization Kiliaen van Rensselaer (before 1596–after 1643), co-founder of the Dutch West India Company and first patroon of Rensselaerswyck Jan Pieterszoon Coen (1587–1629), Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies Peter Stuyvesant (c. 1612–1672), colonial governor of the New Netherland colony Jan van Riebeeck (1619–1677), commander of the Cape Colony and founder of Cape Town Business Isaac Le Maire (1558–1624), largest shareholder in the VOC Louis De Geer (1587–1652), Walloon/Dutch merchant, considered the father of Swedish industry Pieter de la Court (1618–1685), Dutch economist and businessman Joseph de la Vega (1650–1692), Amsterdam's Jewish merchant Politics Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange (1567–1625), stadtholder Frederik Hendrik, Prince of Orange (1584–1647), stadtholder Willem III van Oranje (1650–1702), King-Stadtholder Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (1547–1619), statesman who played an important role in the Dutch struggle for independence from Spain Jan de Witt (1625–1672), statesman who played an important role in the Dutch Golden Age Cornelis de Graeff (1599–1664), Amsterdam regent who played an important role in the Dutch Golden Age Andries de Graeff (1611–1678), Amsterdam regent who ruled the city after the death of his brother Cornelis Agatha Welhouk (1637–1715), central figure in 17th-century court case and daughter of Delft's mayor Nicolaes Witsen (1641–1717), Dutch statesman who was mayor of Amsterdam thirteen times, between 1682-1706 Military Maarten Tromp (1598–1653), admiral Cornelis Tromp (1629–1691), admiral, commander-in-chief of the Dutch and Danish navies Michiel de Ruyter (1607–1676), admiral in the Anglo-Dutch Wars Cornelis Jol (1597–1641), admiral and privateer Cornelius Cruys (1655–1727), Dutch Vice Admiral of the Imperial Russian Navy and the first commander of the Russian Baltic Fleet References Dutch Golden Age Golden Age Dutch Golden Age