Chapter Nederlandse doopsgezinden in Indonesië in de periode van de VOC – Een schets

Overview & Synopsis

From the very beginning of the Dutch trade with the East Indies, Mennonites (‘Doopsgezinden’) from the Netherlands or their siblings were involved in sailing to that part of Asia or lived and worked there, often as servants of the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie. The very first to set foot ashore there was Aernout Lintgens. Being part of Cornelis Houtman’s first expedition, in February 1597 he negotiated a full week with a local king on the island of Bali. In the next decades and centuries several other Doopsgezinden travelled to or worked in the Indies. At least seven asked to become members of the so-called Indische Kerk. Apparently several of those living there did not refuse to use arms. Not always their departure to the colony was a free choice: failure in business at home or even misdemeanour played a role. All in all between twenty and thirty Doopsgezinden or their not yet baptized children were in the Indies till the moment the VOC had to end its business in 1796.