He was one of the founders of Dutch marine painting. He travelled a great deal (and became very rich), spending two years in Rome, before returning to Haarlem, and then being shipwrecked off the coast of Portugal (c. 1590). The local inhabitants suffered much from English pirates and Vroom's life was in danger, until he showed his ability as an artist; whereupon it was decided that he was "not an Englishman, but a Christian".
His pupils included Vlieger, who in turn was the teacher of the greatest of Dutch marine painters, Willem II van de Velde.

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