User:Hjacoba/Laurens Rijnhart Koolemans Beynen

Laurens Rijnhart Koolemans Beynen was an arctic explorer. Born in the Hague, Netherlands, on the 11th of March 1852, he joined the Royal Dutch Navy as a mid-shipman in 1871, becoming Lieutenant in 1874 after serving in the North Sea, and on the coasts of Guinea and Sumatra. Inspired by the former glories of the Dutch Navy and by the voyages of Sir Allen Young and in the Pandora, Koolemans Beynen obtained permission to join Young's vessel in 1875, and became acquainted with ice navigation. He took part in a second expedition, and then began a series of lectures on the Arctic all over the country. His enthusiasm led to the formation of an influential Arctic Committee, and funds were obtain to build a small schooner in Amsterdam, named the Willem Barentz when she was launched on April 6, 1878, with Koolemans Beynen second in command. 