Following the coastline is a simple, but reliable way to navigate. When traveling to the East-Indies, this was often done along the coast of Africa.
This gablestone shows a compassmaker worked in this building on Droogbak 16. Even though there are other ways to navigate, like using the stars, the use of a compass alongside navigational maps made was essential for navigating accurately at sea, and documenting new land.
Droogbak 16, Image free to use
Droogbak 16, image free to use