Willem Janszoon Blaeu: Life and Legacy Early Life and Education Born: 1571, possibly in Alkmaar or Uitgeest, Netherlands. Willem Janszoon Blaeu’s early life was rooted in the family's herring trade business. However, his interests soon shifted towards more intellectual pursuits. He developed a keen interest in mathematics and astronomy, leading him to seek guidance from Adriaan Anthonisz, a surveyor and astronomer who became hi…