Pieter Nuyts
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Pieter Nuyts (1598 - December 11, 1655) was a Dutch explorer. He was governor of Formosa, later known as Taiwan, June 28, 1627 till May 9, 1630. During his time as governor, Nuyts along with his son Laurens was kidnapped by Japanese traders on June 29, 1629 in a dispute over tax. The problem was resolved on July 5, 1629 with the Japanese being expelled. Nuyts was relieved in 1630 by Hans Putmans, who served until 1636. Nuyts was the third governor of the Dutch colony in Formosa, based in the southern port of Tainan.
Named after him is the Nuyts Archipelago off the south Australian coast, which he mapped in 1627. He is credited with being the first European to make a sighting of this coastline upon the ship 't Gulden Zeepaerdt, commanded by François Thijssen.
