How could an individual attain high rank in the Seventeenth-Century Dutch colonial empire and once appointed, how could one retain high office? This dissertation seeks to answer these... Show moreHow could an individual attain high rank in the Seventeenth-Century Dutch colonial empire and once appointed, how could one retain high office? This dissertation seeks to answer these questions by means of a detailed case-study of the careers of two colonial governors: Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen (1604-1679)and Rijckloff Volckertsz. van Goens sr. (1619-1682). By following their careers through the rise to high office and the appointment procedures, their time in office and finnaly their fall from power, this dissertation shows how different interests could align to further careers or to break them. By comparing a case from the history of the West India Company with a case from the East India Company, this dissertation shows how the internal workings of both companies actually differed in practice. Both governors spent most of their overseas career in what were atypical colonies: Brazil and Ceylon. Close examination of the policies they proposed not only sheds light on the reasons for their eventual fall from power, it also shows that the assertion that the Dutch companies were mostly interested in trade over territory does not hold true. This suggests that empire is a proper frame for studying the Dutch Republic and its colonies. Show less
Given the formation of the history of art and the anthropology of art, with their inclusion of archaeology, this paper focuses on the field which has come to consist of the inter-relation between...Show moreGiven the formation of the history of art and the anthropology of art, with their inclusion of archaeology, this paper focuses on the field which has come to consist of the inter-relation between ornament, design, craft, and decorative art. Outlining the historiography of the field and inserting outer-European countries, the paper will exemplify ways in which women brought in a reflection on the nature and meaning of crafts and ornament of small-scale societies. This reflection is closely linked to personal experiences of crafts and ornament and implies a gendering of first-hand reception. Examples from small-scale Indonesian societies single out Dutch contributions to the discourse on extra-European crafts around 1900.Show less
The relationship between the VOC (Dutch East India Company) and its servants fundamentally changed with its decline (1740-1796). The changing circumstances of the eighteenth century demanded too... Show moreThe relationship between the VOC (Dutch East India Company) and its servants fundamentally changed with its decline (1740-1796). The changing circumstances of the eighteenth century demanded too much of the VOC. The solution to these new demands was not sought in new capitalization from Europe, but in a combination of cutbacks on activities in Asia and augmented usage of servants’ fortunes. The domains the VOC retreated from were filled by privileges to the servants. As the VOC depended more on its servants during its decline, the balance of power between them shifted in favour of the servants. This change in balance demanded more of the servants, forcing them to organize themselves differently to meet the new challenges. In the end, this change of perspective makes the development much more comparable to the changes the English East India Company went through, and provides a new perspective on changes in the position of the EIC-servants in the period around Plassey (1757). Show less
This dissertation deals with four aspects of the Dutch East India Company’s (VOC) presence at the settlement of Ceylon in the eighteenth century. The net-profit of the island for the parent company... Show moreThis dissertation deals with four aspects of the Dutch East India Company’s (VOC) presence at the settlement of Ceylon in the eighteenth century. The net-profit of the island for the parent company in The Netherlands, the system of bookkeeping and the resulting insights in the proceeds of the company at the settlement, the private bills of exchange sent from Colombo to The Netherlands and an analysis of the VOC-employees at the offices in Ceylon constitute the four areas of research. The study is predominantly based on quantitative sources to be found in the archives in The Hague and in Colombo. The detailed results about Ceylon – signifying about one eighth of the Asian branch of the Company – can be used for a better understanding of the history of the VOC at all her settlements from The Cape to Japan. An important general conclusion is the complementary character of the East India Company on the one hand and the private business activities of her servants or employees on the other hand. Show less
