An itinerant preacher turned cartographer, also known as Pieter Platevoet (Flatfoot). His first work as a cartographer was to prepare five maps for the Dutch Bible of 1590. One of them, was not actually included in the bible, but issued separately. It shows the four possible sailing routes to the lucrative markets in Southeast Asia. Plancius was an investor in the Dutch East India Company. He became their first hydrographer, and was soon supplying both navigational and star charts based on the observations of the ships’ pilots, for the expeditions following these routes.

Oval framed black and white portrait of Petrus Plancius.