Dutch Governors Abroad

NL: Een overzicht van de Nederlandse koloniën, en de politieke leiders die deze gebieden beheerden.. Meteen ook een introductie tot de manier waarop deze koloniën eventueel overgingen op andere mogendheden, en een verband naar de famiale connecties die te maken hebben met deze contreien.

EN: An overview of the Dutch colonies, and of its political leaders. Also introducing the handover over these colonies to other colonial powers, including connections to families involved in the administration of these colonies.

FR: Un inventaire des ancienne colonies hollandaises, ainsi que leurs administrateurs de l'époque. Les projets relatés peuvent également proposer les dirigeants d'autres nations occupantes avant ou après la présence hollandaise. Ainsi, ces projets permettent un accès aux généalogies 'locales'.

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For the most part of Dutch colonial history, the occupation and exploitation of overseas territories and trading posts was assigned to two private companies - the VOC (largely Asia and Africa) and the WIC (the Americas). Being private means that they raised capital through public subscriptions, and their administration was appointed by the shareholders. As such, the "governors" of the overseas territories were administrators in private employ, often simply called 'directors'. In fact, their role in the colonies usually went well beyond commercial administration: they were the de facto rulers (the mix of political and commercial interests often gave way to abuses and corruption). By the end of the 18th century, the VOC and WIC ceased to exist; at that point, the Dutch government took direct control of these overseas possessions.

Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie - VOC (Dutch East India Company)

• Governors of the Cape Colony
• Governors of Mauritius
• Governors General of the Dutch East Indies
• Governors of Dutch Malacca
• Governors of Formosa
• Governors of Coromandel
• Governors of Ceylon
• Governors of Amboina
• Governors of Ternate
• Governors of Banda
• Governors of Makassar
• Commanders in Malabar
• Directors in Bengal
• Directors in Persia
• Chief Factors in Japan
• Chief Factors in Thailand
• Chief Factors in Arakan
• Chief Factors in Tonkin

West-Indische Compagnie - WIC (Dutch West India Company)

• Governors of New Netherland
• Governors of Suriname
• Governors of Essequibo
• Governors of the Netherlands Antilles
• Governors of the Gold Coast .

In a general way, control by the VOC and WIC over the colonies disappeared with the demise of these private companies, in resp. 1799 and 1792 - after which The Netherlands took over direct control