OSTAADE, Piet Van, Dutch navigator, born in Muyden, near Amsterdam, about 1670; died in Amsterdam in 1711. He had gained reputation as a successful pilot, when he was chosen by the states-general in 1709 as commander of an expedition to the arctic regions. Sailing from Amsterdam, 21 April, 1709, he reached Davis island, 25 June, and fifteen days later landed oil the site of the present Danish establishment of Holsteinborg, where he remained nearly a month occupied in astronomical observations. Resuming his journey northward on 3 August, he eottsted Greenland to Baflin bay and tried to double Cape Warrender, but was prevented by ice. Finding a convenient fjord in the Strait of Lancaster, he resolved to winter there, and named it Van Ostaade Winterhaven. Landing on 2 October, he built a large snow-house and two barns for the storage of provisions and ammunition. Sailing again on 11 June, 1710, he doubled Cape York, explored Adolphus island, and saw the peninsula of Boothia, but mistook it for a large island. He advanced as far as latitude 70º 20' N. when want of provisions compelled him to make sail for Amsterdam, where he arrived, 26 October, 1710. He published " Beschryving van de expedition naar den Noord Pool in de Yaaven 1709-1710, ouder command van Pier van Ostaade, loots in dienst van de Edele Heeren der General Staten van Holland" (Amsterdam, 1711).