AYUTTHAYA HISTORICAL RESEARCH



DIRECTORS OF THE DUTCH VOC FACTORY





The list of tour of duty for the chief factors of the Dutch VOC settlement in Ayutthaya is based on the document by Bhawan Ruangsilp (reference 1). François Valentyn sometimes gives slightly different dates, which are noted in footnotes. The Dutch VOC local office was housed in a brick house assigned by the King of Siam within the city of Ayutthaya until 1634 CE, when a new brick building was constructed southeast of the city.


The VOC hierarchy


The hierarchy of commercial officers was organised into ranks within the Company hierarchy, parallel to military ranks (ensign, lieutenant, captain). Promotions were based on experience, trading success, and loyalty to the Company. The ranks determined authority, pay, and responsibility within the Company’s global trade network.


A sub‑merchant, or 'Onderkoopman', was a junior merchant who assisted with bookkeeping, inventories, and correspondence, and supervised small transactions. It was often a training position for future promotion (entry‑level officer).


A merchant or 'Koopman' was a full merchant who managed accounts, negotiated with local traders, oversaw warehouse stock, and sometimes commanded smaller ships or outposts (a mid-level officer)


The Chief Merchant, or 'Opperkoopman', was a senior merchant, often the head of a lodge or factory, responsible for all trade, finances, and diplomacy with local rulers (senior officer). He was the VOC’s representative, negotiating privileges, managing warehouses, and corresponding with Batavia.





(Memorial plate for the Dutch factory in Ayutthaya inaugurated in 1956 CE - Picture taken December 2008 CE)



The Thai hierarchy


In 1633 CE, at a time a formal Dutch diplomatic mission visited Ayutthaya, carrying a missive and lavish gifts from Prince Frederick Henry of Orange (Stadtholder 1625–1647 CE), the VOC Directors of the Ayutthaya trading post were formally integrated into the Siamese court hierarchy by being granted an official Thai noble rank. This was a deliberate act by King Prasat Thong (reign 1629-1656 CE) to bind foreign merchants into the kingdom’s administrative and ceremonial framework.


The King conferred a Thai title, often at the level of Okphra or Okluang, on the VOC Director, symbolically making him part of the nobility. This ensured the Dutch were not merely foreign traders but were recognised as officials under Siamese law and bound them to obligations of loyalty and service, while legitimising their privileges (warehouse rights, tax remissions, diplomatic standing). The Ayutthaya lodge operated under this framework, with the Director holding dual status as a Dutch company officer and a Siamese-ranked noble. The VOC Director could thus interact with Siamese officials as a peer within the hierarchy, rather than as an outsider, thereby easing negotiations and giving the Dutch a formal place in court protocol.


The Ayutthaya court operated under a sakdina system, which determined not only prestige but also the amount of land and manpower each official could command. Okluang was a mid-level noble title. Okphra was a step higher and more prestigious, while Okya was one of the highest noble titles, often given to ministers or governors of major provinces.





(The Dutch Factory - a two‑storey façade with twin gables, VOC flag flying - on Valentyn’s map "Groote Siamse Rievier Me-Nam Of Te Moeder Der Wateren In haren loop met de vallende Spruyten Verbeeld” published in 'Oud en Nieuw Oost Indien'. Amsterdam 1724-1726 CE)



The Ayutthaya factory is a sub-office of Patani


1603 - 1605 Daniel Van der Leck (purpose: exploring local trade opportunities).

1604 - 1607 Cornelis Specx & Lambert Jacobz. Heijn (purpose: establishing trade relations with China).

1606 - Jacques van de Perre & Egbert Egbertss (from Patani Lodge) - Willem Pietersen Tonneman (from Johor Lodge).

1608 - 1611 Lambert Jacobz. Heijn.

1611 - 1612 Cornelis van Neijenrode (chief merchant) & Maerten Houtman. 1612 - 1617 Maerten Houtman (chief merchant).


The Ayutthaya factory autonomous (1617 CE)


1617 - 1621 Cornelis van Neijenrode (tot ca. sep. 1621).

1621 - 1622 Jan Mibaise.


1623 - 1624 Factory closed (1) under the impetus of Governor-General Jan Pieterszoon Coen, leaving behind the assistant Jan Janss. van Campen. In 1623, Van Hasel arrived to help Jan Janss. with collecting the remaining debts.


1625 - Factory reopened under the impetus of Governor-General Pieter de Carpentier (1623-1627).

1625 - 1626 Pieter van der Elst (sub-merchant) - promoted to merchant before he died in 1626.

1626 - 1627 Jacob Spanjaart (acting).

1627 - 1629 Adriaen de Marees.


1629 - 1633 Factory temporarily closed. Assistants are left in charge.


1633 - 1636 Joost Schouten - obtained the official Thai rank of Okluang. (2)(3)

1636 - 1641 Jeremias van Vliet - obtained the official Thai rank of Okphra. (3)

1637 - 1638 Hendrick Jansz Nachtegael - acting while van Vliet was in Batavia.

1641 - 1645 Reinier van ’t Zum - obtained the official Thai rank of Okphra.

1645 Isaac Moerdijck. (4)

1646 - 1650 Jan van Muyden (merchant) - obtained the official Thai rank of Okya, the highest rank any director attained. Was recalled in 1650. (5)

1650 Rijckloff van Goens (acting) - was sent to Ayutthaya to investigate the financial problems left by the former director Jan van Muijden.

1650 - 1651 Volkerus Westerwolt (assistant).

1651 - 1652 Hendrick Craijers - died in Ayutthaya in 1652. (6)

1652 - 1656 Volkerus Westerwolt (acting) - merchant, obtained the official Thai rank of Okluang.

1656 - 1662 Jan van Ryck (chief merchant) - obtained the official Thai rank of Okluang. (7)

1662 - 1663 Enoch Poolvoet (acting) - served in 1649 in Ayutthaya as an assistant. Promoted to merchant in 1661. (8)





(Rijcklof Volckertsz. van Goens (1619-1682) became the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1660 to 1661 CE. Wikipedia)



1663 - 1664 Factory temporarily closed. (9)


1664 - 1668 Enoch Poolvoet (chief merchant since 1666) - obtained the official Thai rank of Okluang.

1668 - 1669 Johannes Van der Spijck (sub-merchant, acting).

1669 - 1672 Nicolaes de Roij. (10)

1672 - 1676 Johannes Van der Spijck (11) (merchant) - died in Ayutthaya in 1676.

1676 Gilles Goosens (acting) - suspected of embezzlement.

1676 - 1678 Dirk de Jongh (12) - suspected of embezzlement.

1678 - 1685 Aarnout Faa (13) (chief merchant) - He was sent to correct the dubious practices of de Jongh and Goosens.

1685 - 1688 Joannes Keijts (chief merchant) - obtained the official Thai rank of Okluang.

1688 - 1691 Pieter van den Hoorn (chief merchant) - Had many conflicts with Thai officials. Constantly asked to be replaced but ignored by the Governor General. van den Hoorn died in Ayutthaya in 1691.

1691 - 1692 Joannes van Wagensvelt (acting - chief merchant) - Retired in 1692, only ten months after taking the position in Ayutthaya.

1692 - 1697 Thomas van Son (sub-merchant).

1697 - 1698 Reinier Boom - died in Ayutthaya in Dec 1698. (14)

1699 - 1703 Gideon Tant. (15)

1703 - 1712 Aarnout Cleur. (16)





(Ca. 1920. Open grave, a short distance from the factory, part of the Dutch graveyard, ‘where from ancient times the high and the low were buried together’ - W. Blankwaardt, W. De faktorij der O.I. Compagnie te Ayuthia. Neerlandia. Jaargang 25)



1706 Factory temporarily closed.


1712 - 1717 Dirk Blom.

1717 - 1720 Wybrant Blom. (17)

1721 - 1722 Hendrik Verburg. (18)

1722 - 1723 Rogier van Alderwereld (acting).

1723 - 1726 Gregorius Hendrik Praagman (19 July 1723)

1726 - 1727 Imel Christiaen Cock.

1728 - 1731 Rogier van Alderwereld.

1732 - 1734 Pieter Sijen - died on 6 September 1734, aged 38, and was buried in the local churchyard. J.A. Kruijt noted during his 1875 visit to Siam that Pieter Sijen's tombstone was at Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok.

1734 - 1735 Willem de Ghij (sub-merchant).

1735 - 1740 Theodorus Jacobus van den Heuvel (1 Aug 1735 - Feb 1740).

1740 - 1741 Willem de Ghij.


1741 - 1747 Factory temporarily closed.


1747 - 1760 Nicolaas Bang. (19)

1760 - 1761 Nicolaas van Berendrecht (acting).

1761 - 1765 Abraham Werndlij.


The factory went up in flames on 8 April 1767.





(François Valentyn's list of the chief factors in Ayutthaya until 1723 CE - Valentyn, François (1626). Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indiën. Deel 3. Boek 6. Beschryvinge van Siam en onsen Handel aldaar)



Footnotes:

(1) 1623-1627: "Henrik Nagtegaal belast door de Heeren 17 dit Comptoir te ligten." (Valentyn, 1626)
(2) 1634: "door last van de Heer Brouwer een steene Logie gebouwd." (Valentyn, 1626)
(3) In Baker, Chris Pombejra, Dhiravat na Van Der Kraan Alfons & Wyatt, David K. (2005). Van Vliet's Siam. Silkworm Books p. 26, Joost Schouten's end of his tour of duty is given as 1638, and Jeremias Van Vliet's tour as 1638 - 1642. François Valentyn gives a tour of duty 1628-1636 for Justus Schouten, and for Jeremias van Vliet, 1639-1642. (Valentyn, 1626) The Corpus Diplomaticum gives the dates 1633-1636. [4]
(4) Izaac Moerdijck served as director for only eight months before the cook murdered him in January 1642. His remains were buried in a chedi in the Dutch cemetery next to the company garden. (Terwiel, 2008)
(5) Valentyn gives here 1647-1650 Herman van Muyden. (Valentyn, 1626)
(6) Craiyers died in Ayutthaya in June 1652, and his remains were buried in a chedi in the company garden of the Dutch lodge. (Terwiel, 2008)
(7) Valentyn gives here 1658-1661 Jan van Ryk. (Valentyn, 1626)
(8) Valentyn gives here 1661-1663 Henoch Poelvoet. " 't Compt. opgebroken". (Valentyn, 1626)
(9) Valentyn notes that in 1664, King Narai (reign 1656-1688 CE) sent some envoys to learn the reason for the closure of the Dutch factory and to request its reopening. In 1665-66 CE, the factory was reopened. (Valentyn, 1626)
(10) Valentyn gives here 1666-1672 for Nicolaas de Roy.
(11) Valentyn gives here 1672-1677 for van der Spyk.
(12) Valentyn gives here 1677-1679 for Dirk de Jong.
(13) Valentyn gives here 1679-1684 for Aarnout Faa.
(14) Valentyn gives the date 1698-1703.
(15) Valentyn gives the date 1703-1703.
(16) Valentyn gives the date 1704-1712.
(17) Valentyn gives the date 1717-1719.
(18) Valentyn gives the date 1720-1722 and mentions the death of Henrik van der Burg on 25 November 1722.
(19) The VOC’s trading post was plundered by the Burmese in 1760 CE. Nicolaas Bang drowned trying to escape the invaders.

References:

[1] Ruangsilp, Bhawan (2007). Dutch East India Company Merchants at the Court of Ayutthaya: Dutch Perceptions of the Thai Kingdom, Ca. 1604-1765. BRILL, Leiden-Boston. Appendix 1.
[2] Valentyn, François, Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indiën (1626). Deel 3, Boek 6. Beschryvinge van Siam en onsen Handel aldaar.
[3] Terwiel, Barend Jan (2008). A Traveler in Siam in the Year 1655: Extracts from the Journal of Gijsbert Heeck. Silkworm Books. p. 56.
[4] Corpus Diplomaticum - Neerlando-Indicum. Verzameling van Politieke contracten en verdere Verdragen door de Nederlanders in het Oosten gesloten, van Privilegebrieven, aan hen verleend, enz., uitgegeven en toegelicht door Mr. J. E. Heeres, Hoogleeraar aan de Ryksuniversiteit te Leiden. Eerste Deel (1596-1650). p. 284.



When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.
(Alexis de Tocqueville)





HISTORY OF AYUTTHAYA



© 2009-2026
All rights reserved