Barent Eriksz

Barent Erickszoon (also Barent Eriksz, Bernhard Erick, etc.) was a Dutch sailor in the late 16th and early 17th century. He came from Enkhuisen, otherwise nothing more is known about its origin. He is probably the first Dutchman who has entered the West African Gold Coast, after the Republic of the United Netherlands was formed in 1579.

Barent Erickszoons boat took off on November 1, 1590 target Brazil in the lake. At the equator we ran into a storm and subsequent strong headwinds left the ship for three months wandering in the Gulf of Guinea, until finally on September 17, 1591 landed on the then to Spain related, but unoccupied island of Príncipe, to make the necessary vessel repairs. The located on the neighboring island of São Tomé Spaniards, however, the arrival of the Dutchman had not gone unnoticed and so they attacked one night with 30 men the Dutch. Barent Erickzoon and 36 of his companions were captured and were imprisoned on São Tomé. In the course of one and a half years of the 30 Dutch died. One day, two French prisoners who had previously been imprisoned on Elmina, transferred to a prison in São Tomé and locked to the Dutch. The Frenchman told of the riches of the Gold Coast and soon a close friendship between the French and the Dutch had developed. Together finally managed to escape and in March 1593 it was happy again in Europe.

The Dutch reported in the home of the narratives of the French, and immediately the equipment of several expeditions was taken at the gold-rich West African coast in attack. In June 1593 ran as the first " Maegdt van Enckhuisen " towards the " Goudkust " from. She had a crew of 25 and was under the leadership of Barent Erickszoon. After nine months, in March 1594, they were back again. 9 loads pepper and about 7 - - 8 quintals of ivory in addition to a larger amount of gold and 8 were on board.

However, Barent Erickzoon was not the only one who ran out in the direction of Guinea coast in 1593. A short time later another ship ran under a native of Hoorn Captain Dirk Veldemius in the direction of Gold Coast. Along the way you fell, however, French pirates in the hands of ship and crew and then there was no sign. Also in 1593 ran a ship under a native of Medemblick Cornelis Treekszoon Vreyer in the direction of Guinea coast. However, storms at the equator crowding the ship from south of the course. Cornelis Treekszoon Vreyer is considered the first Dutchman who has driven trade in Angola.

Barent Erickzoon took 11 trips to the coast of Guinea and India. Of the latter he brought, inter alia, also 10,200 animal skins with.

Swell

  • Nicolaus Hadeler, history of the Dutch colonies on the Gold Coast with special reference to the trade, Dissertation University of Bonn, 1904
  • Seafarer
  • Person (Netherlands)
  • Person (Ghana)
  • Netherlander
  • Born in the 16th century
  • Died in the 17th century
  • Man
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