Renier van Tzum

Reinier van Tzum also Reijnjer van't to, (* 1600 in Tzum, † September 21, 1670 in IJlst ) made ​​in the service of the Dutch East India Company (VOC ) career as a businessman and head of the commercial establishments in Siam in Japan. After his return, he became mayor of IJlst, one of the " eleven Frisian cities " ( hook size Friese eleven steden )

Early career

Van Tzum came from the Frisian village of Tzum near Franeker. His father Marten Jansz. was captain at the Admiralty of Friesland. The first evidence of his career in the Dutch East India Company can be found for 1629, while he was as a merchant in Ayutthaya (Siam). He had held this rank in 1636. In 1640 he became a merchant. The following year he took over the management of the establishment, at first temporarily, then with official confirmation. In this position, he worked closely with well-known factor fallopian tubes as Johan van Twist in Malacca, François Caron in Dutch Formosa and the heads of the branch in Iran ( Bandar Abbas ) and on the Coromandel coast. On February 6, 1644, he brought a letter from the King of Siam to Batavia and pulled on May 3, with gifts and a letter from the Governor-General again to Ayutthaya.

Japan

Like a letter from Batavia from June 2, 1645 shows his uncle and church council Pieter Hessel in Tzum, Van Tzum had actually intended to return to their homeland, but he was sent for a cycle to settle Dejima in Nagasaki Bay. The transfer made ​​sense, because Siam delivered Sappanholz, animal skins, rubber Lacca, coconut oil, Putschuk ( Costus indicus), ivory, etc. for the Japanese market, so experience in both branches of advantage were. Van Tzums ship reached on September 29, 1645 Nagasaki. Until the official inaugural service took him the acting head Pieter Antonisz. Overwater into the shops.

The situation at that time was quite precarious. A Dutch expedition ship, the " Breskens " had, two years previously exposed regardless of all the strict prohibitions in Japanese Nambu ( northern Japan ) a boat to take on water. Prompt Captain Hendrick Cornelisz Schaep and nine of his men were arrested and transferred to Edo. After much dithering, the nationality of the stranger cleared up, the shogun had mercy and face the ten eventually the Dejima trading post in February 1644. But the incident had caused tremendous anger in the Japanese government, and you. Expected significant efforts and a sign of gratitude on the part of the East India Company

The end of December broke Van Tzum to the annual trip to Edo (now Tokyo ), where the factor tubal occasion of Japanese New Year in a ceremony the Shogun for permission to trade with Japan who made everyone thanks. With six compatriots and a large Japanese Entourage he reached on February 7, 1646 his property in the Hofstadt. Like every year, led the Dutch gifts for the Shogun and other senior men with. In -depth interviews attempted in charge of security in the land commissioner Inoue Masashige and the Imperial Council Kuze Hiroyuki to capture the attitude of the company and the background of the incident in Nambu. Neither the gifts ( glasses, lenses, pharmaceuticals, etc. ) nor Van Tzums explanations, however, were deemed sufficient, and it would take years until the voltages were reduced by an expensive special mission.

On October 7, Van Tzum handed over the official duties to his successor Willem Verstegen. Three weeks later, his ship ran out to Batavia. Van Tzum felt " saved".

Journey home

The burden of the year in Japan are likely to have reinforced the decision to drive home another objective. On January 16, 1647 he set off on board the " Haerlem ". On 25 March, however, their ship was in the circumnavigation of the Cape of Good Hope in violent gusts due. It was not until 1652 taught the Dutchman Jan van Riebeeck here under a supply base, so that they themselves, as best they could, entrenched and waiting for the help of another company ships. Van Tzum succeeded on the " Olifant " ( Elephant ) to come, but sixty men had to wait ashore one year.

Friesland

Back in the Netherlands drew Van Tzum after Cornjum, where he had a Margaretha van Aesgema married in 1648. 1651, he became the owner of a courtyard called " Salwerd " at Franeker. 1654 he moved to IJlst over, became a member of Vroedschaps and took over within a few years the office of mayor. In 1657 he became a church elder, in the following year a member of the Frisian Provincial Parliament, where he took care of the Accounts Chamber of the finances of the province.