| January 31 | Wisselbank of Amsterdam established |
| March 12 | Bermuda becomes an English colony |
| March 25 | Henry Hudson embarks on an exploration for Dutch East India Co. |
| April 9 | Spain and Netherlands sign 12 Year Resistant Pact |
| June 17 | Netherlands, England and France sign 12 year Covenant |
| July 6 | Majesteitsbrief: Emperor Rudolf II grants Bohemia freedom of religion |
| July 9 | Emperor Rudolf II grants Bohemian protestants freedom of religion |
| July 10 | Catholic German monarchy forms Catholic League |
| July 20 | Emperor Rudolf II grants Silezische protestants freedom of religion |
| July 28 | Admiral George Somers settles in Bermuda |
| August 8 | Venetian senate examines Galileo Galilei's telescope |
| August 25 | Galileo demonstrates his 1st telescope to Venetian lawmakers |
| August 28 | Henry Hudson, discovers and explores Delaware Bay |
| September 1 | Pieter Both sworn in as 1st Governor-General of East Indies |
| October 12 | Children's rhyme "Three Blind Mice," published in London |
