Barents and his crew had to be prepared for the coming severe winter. The men soon started  to build a house from driftwood and some parts of the ship.

building the house for surviving the winter (1596)

Before the construction of the house was completed, the ship’s carpenter died. The crew moved from the ship into  „The Barentsz House„.

The polar night started and as in 16.century the average temperature  in this area was much lower than today, it was extremely cold there. Collected firewood was used  up after only a short time . The outside temperature was so low that only sometimes it was possible to go out  on a search for wood. Meat from foxes caught in special fox traps was welcome addition  to the menu. The fat of the killed polar bears was used as fuel  for the oil lamp giving a slight shine to the house where everybody was awaiting the spring. Even if they did not want to eat bear meat that could be poisoned, scurvy  had spread. Barents became ill as well. Two sailors were killed by a polar bear that started to eat  them before the other could come to help.

In February the next year  sunshine shortly appeared at the horizon and brought a small hope to desperate Dutch. The expedition prepared two small boats from wood, they had found  from their ship, and with the help of them they assumed to survive. Barents left his notes in the chimney ( fire place ) as well as his message was left on the table  near by the book „Marco Polo„  for whomever would find it.

They were prepared for the voyage to the south, around Novaya Zemlya coast, to the north of Russia. The way back was very difficult  and so they proceeded only slowly. Barents and two other sailors died.

death of Willem Barents (1597)

Finally, after two months hungry survivors met Russian fishermen, from whom they bought some food. With their help they arrived at Kola where they met the other ship (J.C.Rijp) of the expedition. In autumn only twelve survivors  returned to Amsterdam.

„The Barents’ House" at Novaya Zemlya was deserted for about three hundred years...

In 1871 a Norwegian seal hunter led by captain Carlsen found the remains of Barents’ House. According to his description the house with its size 10 by 6,2 meter, was not too much destroyed. Many objects were found including the Barents’ journal describing the expedition. The book was found as well and there was a clock still on the wall there.