Joan Blaeu (Dutch pronunciation:[ˈjoːɑmˈblʌu]; 23 September 1596 – 21 December 1673), also calledJohannes Blaeu, was a Dutchcartographer and the official cartographer of theDutch East India Company. Blaeu is most notable for his map published in 1648, which was the first map to incorporate theheliocentric theory into a map of the world and was the first map that incorporated the discoveries ofAbel Tasman. Blaeu renamed what is nowNew Zealand asNieuw Zeeland after the Dutch province ofZeeland; the anglicized version of the name is still in use today.^[1][2]

Joan Blaeu
Joan Blaeu by J. van Rossum
Born	(1596-09-23)September 23, 1596 Alkmaar
Died	21 December 1673(1673-12-21) (aged 77) Amsterdam
Occupation	Cartographer
Known for	First world map incorporatingheliocentric theory Naming ofNew Zealand
Spouse	Geertruid Vermeulen (1634-1673)
Children	Joan II

Blau was born inAlkmaar, the son of cartographerWillem Blaeu. In 1620, Blaeu became a doctor of law but he joined in the work of his father. In 1635, they published theAtlas Novus (full title:Theatrum orbis terrarum, sive, Atlas novus) in two volumes. Joan and his brother Cornelius took over the studio after their father died in 1638. Blaeu succeeded his father as the official cartographer of theDutch East India Company.

Blaeu's world map,Nova et Accuratissima Terrarum Orbis Tabula was published in 1648.^[3] This map was the first that depicted theSolar System according to the heliocentric theories ofNicolaus Copernicus, first printed in 1543, which show the earth revolving around the sun.^[4] This map was used as a template for the design of the pavement of the Groote Burger-Zaal of the new Amsterdam Town Hall, designed by the Dutch architectJacob van Campen (now theAmsterdam Royal Palace), in 1655.^[5]

Blaeu'sHollandia Nova was also depicted in hisArchipelagus Orientalis sive Asiaticus published in 1659 in theKurfürsten Atlas (Atlas of the Great Elector), and was used byMelchisédech Thévenot to produce his map,Hollandia Nova—Terre Australe (1664).^[6] He also published the 12-volumeLe Grand Atlas, ou Cosmographie blaviane, en laquelle est exactement descritte la terre, la mer, et le ciel. One edition is dated 1663, in folio 540 mm × 340 mm (21 in × 13 in), which contained 593 engraved maps and plates.

Around 1649, Blaeu published a collection of Dutchcity maps namedToonneel der Steeden (Views of Cities). In 1651, he was voted into theAmsterdam council. In 1654, Blaeu published the first atlas ofScotland, devised byTimothy Pont.

Blaeu was fiercely competitive with his contemporaryJohannes Janssonius as to which of them could make an atlas with a higher quantity of maps. In 1662, Blaeu published theAtlas Maior, it had 11 volumes and included 600 maps. This atlas became a status symbol for those who owned it and was the most expensive book of the 17th century.^[7]

Acosmology was planned, but a fire destroyed the studio and all of Blaeu's work in December 1672.^[8][9] Blaeu died a year later, 21 December 1673, inAmsterdam.^[10] He is buried in the AmsterdamWesterkerk. He was survived by his son, Joan II, who continued his father's work until 1712.^[11]

• History of cartography

• Works by Joan Blaeu at theBiodiversity Heritage Library 
• Works by Joan Blaeu atOpen Library 
• Works by or about Joan Blaeu at theInternet Archive