Willem Barentsz (anglicized as William Barents or Barentz) was a famous Dutch Arctic explorer. Barentsz went on three expeditions to the far north in search for a Northeast passage. He reached as far as Novaya Zemlya and the Kara Sea in his first two voyages. During a third expedition in 1596 he discovered Spitsbergen and Bear Island. Barentsz died on the return voyage in 1597.

In 1853, the former Murmean Sea was renamed Barents Sea in his honour. Barentsburg, the second largest settlement on Spitsbergen, the Barents Island and the Barents Region were also named after Barentsz.