Excerpts from Books and Wikipedia
"Peter knew that Russia could not face the Ottoman Empire alone. In 1697, he traveled 'incognito' to Western Europe on an 18-month journey with a large Russian delegation–the so-called 'Grand Embassy.'" . . . Thanks to the mediation of Nicolaes Witsen, mayor of Amsterdam and an expert on Russia, the Tsar was given the opportunity to gain practical experience in the largest shipyard in the world, belonging to the Dutch East India Company, for a period of four months. The Tsar helped with the construction of an East Indiaman ship specially laid down for him: Peter and Paul." [Wikipedia]