Nova Zembla

Holland is penniless after its war with the Spanish Empire.

To survive, it needs trade with the Far East.

The problem is the route.

Cornelis de Hout with his fleet seeks a route through the Spanish blockades...

and around the Cape of Good Hope.

Nothing more is heard of him.

The influential minister Petrus Plancius asks the explorer William Barentsz...

to look for a Northeast passage past Nova Zembla.

Two previous attempts failed.

To the noble, wise and wealthy patron...

the Reverend Plancius.

Many coasts that were once unknown...

have recently been discovered after several searches.

As this journey has been undertaken with your support and for your benefit...

I take the liberty of dedicating this description to you.

based on a true story

The boy... - Which boy?

The mayor's son.

Oh, him.

His name is Pieter Cornelis?

PC, yes. What about him?

Do you make love to him too, as you?

He writes poems for me.

In French, I suppose. - Yes.

And in Latin.

Why don't you write me poems?

About what?

About this?

It's the verger.

Hey, little verger!

Symen, come here.

Silly...

Symen is as deaf as a post.

You know that.

It's such a pity...

you have no money...

no family...

Gerrit 'no one's son' de Veer.

My father will never approve marrying you.

Your father can't do without me.

I do everything for him.

You take his messages.

I'm his assistant.

Messenger boy.

Soon I'll have money.

When I come back, I'll have money.

You don't mean that?

You're no sailor. - I don't care.

I'm going anyway. - Around the North?

Yes...

and when I come back I'll be rich.

In this way, our people, with God's help...

has thrown off the yoke of the Spanish occupier...

and demanded its freedom.

He granted us...

oceans to sail...

continents to discover...

He granted us a spirit of enterprise...

a lust for adventure.

Leaders such as Willem Barentsz...

or Jacob van Heemskerck, who is present here...

are determined this time...

to find and open the passage of fortune to the Indies for us.

Men like them, and may our prayers accompany them on their voyages...

will bring riches to our poor...

and poverty stricken people.

And in this way also peace...

and wealth...

for everyone.

The blessing of God descends...

on our very young Republic.

Go hence in peace...

Amen...

Papa...

You were wonderful.

A wonderful story, minister.

A story that will help us cope with the cold.

I don't think that cold will be your greatest enemy, Jacob, rather...

a lack of warmth.

And, Jacob...

You are a fine captain...

but listen to Barentsz.

He keeps it all up here.

Did you have...

An astrolabe...

What do you need it for?

For measuring star time.

Tell me... - Copernicus' constant?

The constant is 9.83.

That's the relation between the Earth and the Moon.

The constant 2.95 refers to the relation Earth-Sun...

Sun-Mercury, Sun-Venus...

Sun-Mars and Sun-Jupiter. Zon-Mars en Zon-Jupiter.

Good.

And this...

is for Mr Barentsz.

Guard it... - with my own life.

Have you had time to think?

I have to do this.

Make sure you hand it over personally.

Thank you.

Oene, stop or I'll stick it up your ass!

But I still make the music.

He's asleep. Our Jantje is asleep.

Wait, wait! Jantje is thirsty. Here it comes.

Jantje stinks of berry rum!

Stop it! - Jantje stinks and we're proud of it.

I'm looking for Barentsz.

It's not about the voyage, boy...

it's about coming home.

Remember that.

Men, a land crab!

Never mind, darling. As long as there's a mast on you!

We've got Placius' slave! Claes! Claes!

I am Gerrit de Veer and I came from the Reverend Plancius.

Well, Gerrit de Veer...

Come closer.

What has our patron given us?

I have to give it to Barentsz personally.

I want to ask you something.

I really want to go along.

On the expedition? - Yes.

You hear that, Willem? Tired of life?

A fight with your father? - I have no parents.

That's an astrolabe...

made by a maker in Louvain.

It uses stars to show the time.

I have a letter.

I am good at reading and want to be a writer.

I want to write about my voyages.

Writer? What use is a writer on a ship?

All great explorers have a writer on board.

All of them?

They report on the voyage in a book and they become famous.

Christopher Columbus? - Yes.

Vasco da Gama? - Alvaro Velho.

Mr Barentsz...

Did you ask Mayor Hooft to come?

Well, men...

Preparing for the voyage? - Tradition.

The men are enjoying themselves. - I noticed.

Good men. - Enough for the Amsterdam bonus.

Good enough to open the route to fortune, for Amsterdam.

And the Republic.

I came to wish you a good voyage.

Wine.

Are you deaf?

One order is enough for Van Heemskerck's men.

Wine!

We can't refuse the great Plancius.

This young man will make us famous.

At your service, captain.

Take this young man with you.

Keep him away from my daughter.

Make a man of him...

or...

feed him to the white bears.

Catharina...

No don't open it! Silly you!

Catharina...

I promise that when I return from China...

Japan and India, I'll bring you beautiful things.

Not important. - And the bonus?

The voyage isn't important. Returning is.

Please wait for me and beat off the rich kids!

Wait for me.

Sprat... are you still coming?

Stop twiddling. Hurry. You're the last.

Come on, I'll help you.

Here you are, first-class accommodation.

Take a seat.

Can you manage?

You are Gerrit, aren't you?

You're a writer.

Get out. Get out.

Come with me.

Come on.

Yep. - Sit down.

All hands on deck!

What is that landlubber doing here?

No idea.

On deck, sprat!

The captain doesn't like latecomers.

There are two ways to get to India.

To the south, via Portugal. We're not welcome there; it's Spanish now.

Then further south round the Cape of Good Hope

Around Africa... - Madagascar.

Madagascar... we have an expert here. - Show off.

The other way is round the North. It's hard for a couple of weeks...

A warm coat and God's blessing.

And the right route through the ice.

An expedition was certainly never so well organised. We have everything.

We have the best maps, a hold full of textiles, a clock for China's Emperor...

and gifts to do business in Japan.

Once we're there, it's only a couple of days away.

Then we'll be in the marvelous Indies.

We'll forget the cold under the tropical sun.

With a woman on each arm.

Rules on board the ship...

Blasphemy is not allowed.