Joan Blaeu was the eldest son of Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638), and was
probably born in Alkmaar in the province of Noord-Holland in the final years of
the 16th century. He was brought up in Amsterdam, and studied law at the
University of Leiden before going into partnership with his father in the 1630s.
He became chief cartographer to the Dutch East India Company from 1638, and
from 1651 to 1672 he served on the Amsterdam City Council without a break, holding several public offices.
He also invested in Dutch colonial interests in North America.
Joan Blaeu main work was Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (or Atlas Maior as it had became known.) Atlas had
expanded to between 9 and 12 volumes, depending on the language. With over 3,000 text pages and
approximately 600 maps, it was the most expensive book money could buy in the later 17th century.