Johan Sems (1572 – January 1635), sometimes known as Johan Semp, was a Dutch cartographer, engineer and land surveyor. He specialized in land reclamation and the building of dikes and fortifications.

Engraving of Sems made by Jacob Matham, based on a portrait by Martin Faber
Cover of Practijck des lantmetens (1600)
Map of Leeuwarden made by Sems in 1603

Biography

edit

Sems was born in Franeker (Friesland) in 1572 to Sem IJsbrandts and Claesgen Adriaens. Sems is a patronym. Sem IJsbrandts registered himself as a student at Leiden University. The family lived on the Marendorp Landzijde on the corner of the Lange Hooglandse Kerksteeg in Leiden. IJsbrandts committed suicide in 1584 due to alcoholism. Johan Sems did not go to university himself. He had probably learned his skills in practice.

Little is known about his children.

Timeline

Sems was married twice: first to Baerthe van Soutelande and then to Catharina Jans.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Westra 2010:24
  2. ^ Ondertrouwboek kerkelijke gemeente Groningen: Inschrijving ondertrouw van Trijntje Sems en Jochum Bastijaen Coen
  3. ^ Nieuwsblad van het Noorden d.d. 13 januari 1981 Johan Sems deed als landmeter in Noord-Nederland belangrijk werk