Gerardus Mercator, a Flemish German (5 March 1512 - 2 December 1594) was a cartographer renowned for creating a world map based on a new projection which represented sailing courses of constant bearing as straight lines an innovation that is still employed in nautical charts used for navigation. Jodocus Hondius (Dutch name: Joost de Hondt) (1563 - 1612) was a Flemish engraver and cartographer. He helped establish Amsterdam as the center of cartography in Europe in the 17th century.