He bought the bog in 1647 in order to establish his own peat colony, but needed to procure a ƒ250,000 mortgage from an Amsterdam merchant. Geerts would later use the surname Wildervanck.
He acquired the bog in 1647 to set up his own peat settlement, but required a £250,000 mortgage from an Amsterdam merchant. Geerts would later adopt the surname Wildervanck.