 He was part of a landmark expedition of the Dutch East India Company in 1626 – 27 which mapped the southern coast of Australia . He became the Dutch ambassador to Japan in 1627 , and he was appointed Governor of Formosa in the same year . Later he became a controversial figure because of his disastrous handling of official duties , coupled with rumours about private indiscretions . He was disgraced , fined and imprisoned , before being made a scapegoat to ease strained Dutch relations with the Japanese . He returned to the Dutch Republic in 1637 , where he became the mayor of Hulster Ambacht and of Hulst . 
