a Dutch Baroque painter, mostly of marine and harbor scenes. Willaerts was born in Utrecht, the son of the painter Adam Willaerts. He trained with his father, becoming a member of the Utrecht guild of painters in 1624, and studied under Jan van Bijlert in Utrecht and with Simon Vouet in Paris. From 1638 to 1644 he served in the entourage of Count John Maurice of Nassau-Siegen, the governor of the Dutch possessions in Brazil. In 1659-60 he visited Naples and Rome. He died in Utrecht.
