VOC Opperhoofden in Japan

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Main article: Dutch East India Company

The Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC in old-spelling Dutch, literally "United East Indian Company") was established in 1602 by the States-General of the Netherlands to carry out colonial activities in Asia. The VOC enjoyed unique success in Japan.

The first VOC trading outpost in Japan was on the island of Hirado off the coast of Kyūshū. In 1641, the Tokugawa shogunate ordered the VOC to transfer its mercantile operations to the small man-made island of Dejima in Nagasaki harbor, on the island of Kyūshū, a short distance from Hirado. For nearly 250 years thereafter, a series of VOC traders lived and worked in this confined location.

Opperhoofd is a Dutch word (plural Opperhoofden) which literally means 'supreme head[man]'. In its historical usage, the word is a gubernatorial title, comparable to the English chief factor, for the chief executive officer of a Dutch factory in the sense of trading post, as lead by a factor, i.e. agent.

[edit] Opperhoofden at Hirado

Main article: Hirado

Hirado (平戸市, today known as Hirado-shi^?) is a small island just off the western shore of the Japanese island of Kyūshū. In the early 17th century, Hirado was a major center of foreign trade and included British, Chinese, and other trading stations along with the Dutch one, maintained and operated by the VOC after 1609. The serial leaders of this VOC trading enclave or "factory" at Hirado were:

View of VOC compound at Hirado island - west coast of Kyūshū (c1669).

• Jacques Specx: 20.9.1609 - 28.8.1612
• Hendrick Brouwer: 28.8.1612 - 6.8.1614
• Jacques Specx: 6.8.1614 - 29.10.1621
• Leonardt Camps: 29.10.1621 - 21.11.1623
• Corneliszoon van Neijenroode: 21.11.1623 - _._.1631
• Pieter Stamper: 1631
• Corneliszoon van Neijenroode: _._.1631 - 31.1.1633
• Pieter van Sante[n]: 31.1.1633 - 6.9.1633
• Nicolaes Couckebacker: 6.9.1633 - _._.1635
• Maerten Wesselingh: _._.1635-_._.1637
• Nicolaes Couckebacker: _._.1637 - 3.2.1639
• François Caron: 3.2.1639 - 13.2.1641 [Caron was last Opperhoofd at Hirado.]

[edit] Opperhoofden at Dejima

Dejima (出島, Dejima^?) was a fan-shaped artificial island in the bay of Nagasaki. This island was a Dutch trading post during Japan's period of maritime restrictions (海禁, kaikin, 1641-1853) during the Edo period. The serial leaders of this VOC trading enclave or "factory" at Dejima were:

• François Caron: 3.2.1639 - 13.2.1641 [Caron was the first Opperhoofd in Dejima following the forced move from Hirado.]
  

  

  A bird's-eye view of "Deshima" as published in the Illustrated London News (March 23,1853). Note the fan-shape of the island.
• Maximiliaen Le Maire: 14.2.1641 - 30.10.1641
• Jan van Elseracq: 1.11.1641 - 29.10.1642
• Pieter Anthonijszoon Overtwater: 29.10.1642 - 1.8.1643
• Jan van Elserac: 1.8.1643 - 24.11.1644
• Pieter Anthonijszoon Overtwater: 24.11.1644 - 30.11.1645
• Reijnjer van't Zum: 30.11.1645 - 27.10.1646
• Willem Verstegen [Versteijen]: 28.10.164 - 10.10.1647
• Frederick Coijet: 3.11.1647 - 9.12.1648
• Dircq Snoecq: 9.12.1648 - 5.11.1649
• Anthonio van Brouckhorst: 5.11.1649 - 25.10.1650
• Pieter Sterthemius: 25.10.1650 - 3.11.1651
• Adriaen van der Burgh: 1.11.1651 - 3.11.1652
• Frederick Coijet: 4.11.1652 - 10.11.1653
• Gabriel Happart: 4.11.1653 - 31.10.1654
• Leonard Winninx: 31.10.1654 - 23.10.1655
• Joan Boucheljon: 23.10.1655 - 1.11.1656
• Zacharias Wagenaer [Wagener]: 1.11.1656 - 27.10.1657
• Joan Boucheljon: 27.10.1657 - 23.10.1658
• Zacharias Wagenaer [Wagener]: 22.10.1658 - 4.11.1659
• Joan Boucheljon: 4.11.1659 - 26.10.1660
• Hendrick Indijck: 26.10.1660 - 21.11.1661
• Dirck van Lier: 11.11.1661 - 6.11.1662
• Hendrick Indijck: 6.11.1662 - 20.10.1663
• Willem Volger: 20.10.1663 - 7.11.1664
• Jacob Gruijs: 7.11.1664 - 27.10.1665
• Willem Volger: 28.10.1665: - 27.10.1666
• Daniel Six [Sicx]: 18.10.1666 - 6.11.1667
• Constantin Ranst: 6.11.1667 - 25.10.1668
• Daniel Six [Sicx]: 25.10.1668 - 14.10.1669
• Francois de Haas: 14.10.1669 - 2.11.1670
• Martinus Caesar: 2.11.1670 - 12.11.1671
• Johannes Camphuijs: 22.10.1671 - 12.11.1672
• Martinus Caesar: 13.11.1672 - 29.10.1673
• Johannes Camphuijs: 29.10.1673 - 19.10.1674
• Martinus Caesar: 20.10.1674 - 7.11.1675
• Johannes Camphuijs: 7.11.1675 - 27.10.1676
• Dirck de Haas: 27.10.1676 - 16.10.1677
• Albert Brevincq: 16.10.1677 - 4.11.1678
• Dirck de Haas: 4.11.1678 - 24.10.1679
• Albert Brevincq: 24.10.1679 - 11.11.1680
• Isaac van Schinne: 11.11.1680 - 31.10.1681
• Hendrick Canzius: 31.10.1681 - 20.10.1682
• Andreas Cleyer [Andries]: 20.10.1682 - 8.11.1683
• Constantin Ranst de Jonge: 8.11.1683 - 28.10.1684
• Hendrick van Buijtenhem: 25.10.1684 - 7.10.1685
• Andreas Cleyer: 17.10.1685 - 5.11.1686
• Constantin Ranst de Jonge: 5.11.1686 - 25.10.1687
• Hendrick van Buijtenhem: 25.10.1687 - 13.10.1688
• Cornelisz.van Outhoorn: 13.10.1688 - 1.11.1689
• Balthasar Sweers: 1.11.1689 - 21.10.1690
• Hendrick van Buijtenhem: 21.10.1690 - 09.11.1691
• Cornelis van Outhoorn: 9.11.1691 - 29.10.1692
• Hendrick van Buijtenhem: 29.10.1692 - 19.10.1693
• Gerrit de Heere: 19.10.1693: - 7.11.1694
• Hendrik Dijkman: 7.11.1694 - 27.10.1695
• Cornelis van Outhoorn: 27.10.1695 - 15.10.1696
• Hendrik Dijkman]: 15.10.1696 - 3.11.1697
• Pieter de Vos: 3.11.1697 - 23.10.1698
• Hendrik Dijkman: 23.10.1698 - 12.10.1699
• Pieter de Vos: 21.10.1699 - 31.10.1700
• Hendrik Dijkman: 31.10.1700 - 21.10.1701
• Abraham Douglas: 21.10.1701 - 30.10.1702
• Ferdinand de Groot: 9.11.1702 - 30.10.1703
• Gideon Tant: 30.10.1703 - 18.10.1704
• Ferdinand de Groot: 18.10.1704 - 6.11.1705
• Ferdinand de Groot: 26.10.1706 - 15.10.1707
• Hermanus Menssingh: 15.10.1707 - 2.11.1708
• Jasper van Mansdale: 2.11.1708 - 22.10.1709
• Hermanus Menssingh: 22.10.1709 - 10.11.1710
• Nicolaas Joan van Hoorn: 10.11.1710 - 31.10.1711
• Cornelis Lardijn: 31.10.1711 - 7.11.1713
• Cornelis Jardijn: 7.11.1713 - 27.10.1714
• Nicolaas Joan van Hoorn: 27.10.1714 -19.10.1715
• Gideon Boudaen: 19.10.1715 - 3.11.1716
• Joan Aouwer: 3.11.1716 - 24.10.1717
• Christiaen van Vrijbergh[e]: 24.10.1717 - 13.10.1718
• Joan Aouwer: 13.10.1718 - 21.10.1720
• Roeloff Diodati: 21.10.1720 - 9.11.1721
• Hendrik Durven: 9.11.1721 - 18.10.1723
• Johannes Thedens: 18.10.1723 - 25.10.1725
• Joan de Hartogh: 25.10.1725 - 15.10.1726
• Pieter Boockestijn: 15.10.1726 - 3.11.1727
• Abraham Minnedonk: 3.11.1727 - 20.10.1728
• Pieter Boockestijn: 22.10.1728 - 12.10.1729
• Abraham Minnedonk: 12.10.1729 - 31.10.1730
• Pieter Boockestijn: 31.10.1730 - 7.11.1732
• Hendrik van de Bel: 7.11.1732 - 27.10.1733
• Rogier de Laver: 27.10.1733 - 16.10.1734
• David Drinckman: 16.10.1734 - 4.11.1735
• Bernardus Coop [Coopa] à Groen: 4.11.1735 - 24.10.1736
• Jan van der Cruijsse: 24.10.1736 - 13.10.1737
• Gerardus Bernardus Visscher: 13.10.1737 - 21.10.1739
• Thomas van Rhee: 22.10.1739 - 8.11.1740
• Jacob van der Waeijen: 9.11.1740 - 28.10.1741
• Thomas van Rhee: 29.10.1741 - 17.10.1742
• Jacob van der Waeijen: 17.10.1742 - 9.11.1743
• David Brouwer: 5.11.1743 - 1.11.1744
• Jacob van der Waeijen: 2.11.1744 - 28.12.1745
• Jan Louis de Win: 30.12.1745 - 2.11.1746
• Jacob Balde: 3.11.1746 - 25.10.1747
• Jan Louis de Win: 28.10.1747 - 11.11.1748
• Jacob Balde: 12.11.1748 - 8.12.1749
• Hendrik van Homoed: 8.12.1749 - 24.12.1750
• Abraham van Suchtelen: 25.12.1750 - 18.11.1751
• Hendrik van Homoed: 19.11.1751 - 5.12.1752
• David Boelen: 6.12.1752 - 15.10.1753
• Hendrik van Homoed: 16.10.1753 - 3.11.1754
• David Boelen: 4.11.1754 - 25.10.1755
• Herbert Vermeulen: 25.10.1755 - 12.10.1756
• David Boelen: 13.10.1756 - 31.10.1757
• Herbert Vermeulen: 1.11.1757 - 11.11.1758
• Johannes Reijnouts: 12.11.1758 - 11.11.1760
• Marten Huijshoorn: 12.11.1760 - 30.10.1761
• Johannes Reijnouts: 31.10.1761 - 2.12.1762
• Fredrik Willem Wineke: 3.12.1762 - 6.11.1763
• Jan Crans: 7.11.1763 - 24.10.1764
• Fredrik Willem Wineke: 25.10.1764 - 7.11.1765
• Jan Crans: 8.11.1765 - 31.10.1766
• Herman Christiaan Kastens: 1.11.1766 - 20.10.1767
• Jan Crans: 21.10.1767 - 8.11.1769
• Olphert Elias: 9.11.1769 - 16.11.1770
• Daniel Armenault: 17.11.1770 - 9.11.1771
• Arend Willem Feith: 10.11.1771 - 3.11.1772
• Daniel Armenault [Almenaault]: 4.11.1772 - 22.11.1773
• Arend Willem Feith: 23.11.1773 - 10.11.1774
• Daniel Armenault [Almenaault]: 11.11.1774 - 28.10.1775
• Arend Willem Feith: 28.10.1775 - 22.11.1776
• Hendrik Godfried Duurkoop: 23.11.1776 - 11.11.1777
• Arend Willem Feith: 12.11.1777 - 28.11.1779
• Isaac Titsingh: 29.11.1779 - 5.11.1780
• Arend Willem Feith: 6.11.1780 - 23.11.1781
• Isaac Titsingh: 24.11.1781 - 26.10.1783
• Hendrik Casper Romberg: 27.10.1783 - _.8.1874
• Isaac Titsingh: _.8.1784 - 30.11.1784

Hendrik Doeff and a Balinese servant in Dejima, Japanese painting.

• Hendrik Casper Romberg: 0.11.84 - 21.11.1785
• Johan Fredrik van Rheede tot de Parkeler: 22.11.1785 - 20.11.1786
• Hendrik Casper Romberg: 21.11.1786 - 30.11.1787
• Johan Frederik van Rheede tot de Parkeler: 1.12.1787 - 1.8.1789
• Hendrik Casper Romberg: 1.8.1789 - 13.11.1790
• Petrus Theodorus Chassé: 13.11.1790 - 13.11.1792
• Gijsbert Hemmij: 13.11.1792 - 8.7.1798
• Leopold Willem Ras: 8.7.1798 - 17.7.1800
• Willem Wardenaar: 16.7.1800 - 14.11.1803
• Hendrik Doeff: 14.11.1803 - 6.12.1817
• Jan Cock Blomhoff: 6.12.1817 - 20.11.1823
• Johan Willem de Sturler: 20.11.1823 - 5.8.1826
• Germain Felix Meijlan: 4.8.1826 - 1.11.1830
• Jan Willem Fredrik van Citters: 1.11.1830 - 30.11.1834
• Johannes Erdewin Niemann: 1.12.1834 - 17.11.1838
• Eduard Grandisson: 18.11.1838 - _.11.1842
• Pieter Albert Bik: _.11.1842 - 31.10.1845
• Joseph Henrij Levijssohn: 1.11.1845 - 31.10.1850
• Frederick Colnelis Rose: 1.11.1850 - 31.10.1852

The last of the Dejima-based Opperhoofden handled the 1855 delivery of the Kankō Maru (観光丸), Japan's first modern steam warship -- a gift from the Dutch King Willem III to the Tokugawa Shogunate.

• Janus Henricus Donker Curtius: 2.11.1852 - 28.2.1860 [Donker Curtius became the last in a long list of hardy Dutch Opperhoofden who were stationed at Dejima; and fortuitously, Curtius also became the first of many Dutch diplomatic and trade representatives in Japan during the burgeoning pre-Meiji years.]

[edit] References

• Blomhoff, J.C. (2000). The Court Journey to the Shogun of Japan: From a Private Account by Jan Cock Blomhoff. Amsterdam
• Blussé, L. et al., eds. (1995-2001) The Deshima [sic] Dagregisters: Their Original Tables of Content. Leiden.
• Blussé, L. et al., eds. (2004). The Deshima Diaries Marginalia 1740-1800. Tokyo.
• Boxer. C.R. (1950). Jan Compagnie in Japan, 1600-1850: An Essay on the Cultural, Aristic, and Scientific Influence Exercised by the Hollanders in Japan from the Seventeenth to the Nineteenth Centuries. Den Haag.
• Caron, F. (1671). A True Description of the Mighty Kingdoms of Japan and Siam. London.
• Doeff, H. (1633). Herinneringen uit Japan. Amsterdam. [Doeff, H. "Recollections of Japan" ISBN 1-55395-849-7]
• Edo-Tokyo Museum exhibition catalog. (2000). A Very Unique Collection of Historical Significance: The Kapitan (the Dutch Chief) Collection from the Edo Period--The Dutch Fascination with Japan. Catalog of "400th Anniversary Exhibition Regarding Relations between Japan and the Netherlands," a joint project of the Edo-Tokyo Museum, the City of Nagasaki, the National Museum of Ethnology, the National Natuurhistorisch Museum" and the National Herbarium of the Netherlands in Leiden, the Netherlands. Tokyo.
• Leguin, F. (2002). Isaac Titsingh (1745-1812): Een passie voor Japan, leven en werk van de grondlegger van de Europese Japanologie. Leiden.
• Nederland's Patriciaat, Vol. 13 (1923). Den Haag.
• Screech, Timon. (2006). Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822. London.
• Siebold, P.F.v. (1897). Nippon. Würzburg e Leipzig.
• Titsingh, I. (1820). Mémoires et Anecdotes sur la Dynastie régnante des Djogouns, Souverains du Japon. Paris.
• Titsingh, I. (1822). Illustrations of Japan; consisting of Private Memoirs and Anecdotes of the reigning dynasty of The Djogouns, or Sovereigns of Japan. London.

[edit] See also

• Rangaku - Dutch studies

[edit] Sources and external links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Dejima

• Dejima: The Island Comes Back to Life
• A map of Deshima
• At the bottom you will also find an image of Deshima
• WorldStatesmen - Japan

• VOC Opperhoofden in Japan is at coordinates 32°44′37″N 129°52′23″E / 32.743525, 129.873022 (VOC Opperhoofden in Japan)Coordinates: 32°44′37″N 129°52′23″E / 32.743525, 129.873022 (VOC Opperhoofden in Japan)