Why was Tasmania once called Van Diemen’s Land?

The island now known as Tasmania was originally named Van Diemen’s Land by the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman when he first encountered the island in 1642.12

Tasman named the territory in honor of Anthony van Diemen, the governor-general of the Dutch East Indies who had commissioned his voyage of exploration. Early British settlers who arrived in the 19th century continued to use this name, and it remained the official title of the colony until 1855–1856.13

The name was officially changed to Tasmania as the colony achieved self-governing status. Today, the historical name "Van Diemen’s Land" is primarily associated with the era of convict transportation and the Black War, a period of intense conflict between European settlers and the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.12