Nova Zembla Page #4

the most exquisite.

You will never teach me ever to forget.

For the Emperor of China...

For the draughts...

and the chimney.

That's fine. Use it all.

A little further on...

is Jan Huygen.

There are always Flemish regulars.

We can't pass that by.

There's always a familiar face.

We have plenty of time.

And plenty of money.

Then l want to go to the baker...

in Kalverstraat...

for some currant bread.

l want to go tomorrow...

in Amsterdam.

Tomorrow...

We all do, Oene.

We all do.

Where is Jan?

Jan ran away from the orphanage.

The orphanage on Warmoestraat.

He never wants to go back.

He told me that.

The sea was his father and mother.

Jan went...

wherever the wind and sea took him.

Lord, watch over Jan.

Lord, watch over Jan.

There's light. The light came back.

Boy...

- Clear light, radiant.

Like the first day.

lmpossible.

lt's too early.

Here... light!

Like the first day of creation.

Men, we locked ourselves up here.

We were afraid of darkness.

But that has gone.

The light came back.

We have to wake up and go.

What do you want us to do? Swim?

Gerrit is right.

You have to go.

- We all have to go.

How? l only hear words.

- We still have sloops.

They're wrecked.

Then we'll repair them for the journey.

You want to row?

We'll find open water and row.

- lt's crazy.

ln the frozen sea?

- We'll row.

lf it blows, we'll hoist a sail.

lt's crazy to stay here.

- Who's in charge?

Who will decide the route?

The stars...

Yes...

But who will lead us home?

Van Heemskerck?

Or Barentsz?

Or Professor Herring?

He knows everything on his first voyage?

Jantje was more experienced, dammit.

l can read maps.

And l know the stars.

And what do you have to offer?

We have to go.

At about 4:
30, hoping for God's mercy...

we left Nova Zembla

with our boat and the sloop.

We see no change or improvement

in the weather...

so we left our Kept House.

A ship!

A ship!

A Dutch ship.

We made it.

That's good.

Go on.

We find the ship of Jan Cornelis de Rijp,

a Dutchman anchored here.

God wanted it that way.

He knew it all so well, didn't he?

Where did it take him?

To death. Yes, death.

And you think you're a leader?

Don't make me laugh.

You don't have it in you.

What use is this story?

Your book?

Who is waiting for it, man?

What's the use of this story?

All this misery?

What use is it?

We left Amsterdam 1 7 months ago.

The homecoming is important.

Just like the voyage.

ln the presence of God...

the success...

but...

above all...

the perseverance...

in order to break down the blockades.

lt's only the start.

Thank you, Cornelis de Houtman.

Welcome...

Welcome back.

You're in time for a feast.

Amsterdam is having a feast.

Cornelis de Houtman has found

a way to the lndies.

The well-known way,

a long way, but successfully.

Your achievement gives us hope.

You're an example.

Where is Barentsz?

Barentsz is dead.

Are there others?

Laurens the carpenter.

Harmen...

Jan Fransz...

and...

Vos...

Pieter Vos didn't make it either.

But you're still alive, boy.

Take this boy with you.

Keep him away from my daughter.

Make a man of him...

or feed him to the white bears.

That was a long time ago.

That's the past.

Gerrit.

lt's really you.

No...

Don't open it yet, silly.

Written in Amsterdam on

the day before the last day of April of 1598.

Your honourable, grateful and

faithful servant and son-in-law...

Gerrit de Veer.

The voyages form the start of the glorious

era of Amsterdam - the Golden Age.

Only in 1932 does a Russian icebreaker

sail north around Nova Zembla to Asia.

The last resting place of Willem Barentsz

has never been found.

Jacob van Heemskerck dies in 1607

as admiral in the Battle of Gibraltar.

Gerrit de Veer's diary is the world's first

best-seller and boosts Holland's morale.

The city's bonus was never paid

to the crew.

No historic document has been found

about the rest of Gerrit de Veer's life.

This film is dedicated to all those

who sailed to Nova Zembla.

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