Adriaen Maertensz Block
Adriaen Maertensz Block was successively captain, commander, and governor of Ambon between 1614-1617, administrator of the Raad van Indië for the Kamer of the Dutch East India Company in Amsterdam in Batavia.
In 1627 two of his ships wrecked on the island Wight in a storm. He probably intended to go there to buy secretly and trade privately. He was suspended and declared unsuitable for other similar offices, and retired in a country house at Lisse, now known as Kasteel Keukenhof.
In his inventory were many books listed on navigation and history: Jan Huygen van Linschoten, Hugo de Groot, Justus Lipsius, Lieuwe van Aitzema, Plutarch, Tacitus.
