
1571 – Born in Uitgeest or Alkmaar, a Dutch cartographer and atlas maker.
1594-1596 – Student of the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, and he qualified as an instrument and globe maker.
1599 – He founded one of history’s greatest cartographic publishing firms.
– Using skills learned from the celebrated Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, Blaeu set up shop in Amsterdam as a globe and scientific instrument maker.
1608 – He had already published a fine world map and a popular marine atlas.
1630 – He purchased 37 plates of the Mercator Atlas from Jodocus Hondius II.
1633 – Appointed mapmaker of the Dutch East India Company.
1635 – He issued the first two volumes of his planned world atlas, Atlas Novus or the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.
1638 – He died on 21st of October in Amsterdam.
– Willem died and the business passed to his sons, Joan and Cornelis, who continued and expanded their father’s ambitious plans.