Jeremias Van Riemsdijk, VOC Governor General Who Was Fond Of Extravagance Dies On October 3, 1777

The painting of the Vijvervreugd Palace, which is the residence of the Governor-General of the VOC, Jeremias van Riemsdijk, which is located around the Ancol area. (Perpusnas)

JAKARTA – 245 years ago, October 3, 1777, the Governor General of the VOC Jeremias van Riemsdijk died. Riemsdijk's departure brought deep sorrow to all the people of Batavia. During his lifetime Riemsdijk was known as the Governor General who was royal because of his wealth.

He is also known to like spree and marriage. The controversy escalated when Van Riemsdijk married an Indo-Dutch woman. Not full-blooded Dutch. Because of this, he often had disagreements with the Church Council. Moreover, marriage has never been approved by a religious institution.

Life is often difficult in the Netherlands. The competition for life is so intense. Especially to be rich. Of course, it would be considered a dream in broad daylight. Asking for help from a wealthy family for a career is definitely not an option. That's how Jeremias van Riemsdijk felt.

The young man from Utrecht no longer feels at home living in the Land of the Windmills. He wanted to change his fate. Working with the Dutch trading airline VOC was the only option. He was willing to live in Batavia (now: Jakarta) which is often called the land of nowhere. As long as his dream of becoming rich comes true.

He started his career from the ground up: sergeant. Riemsdijk also began to scratch the dream of becoming a rich man. Hard work is the trick. Gradually, he began to rise in rank, even to the point of becoming a major trader or opperkoopman.

Self portrait of Governor General Jeremias Van Riemsdijk. (Wikimedia Commons)

The 'elixir' of hard work and family connections is an important recipe for his career journey. After all, at that time his uncle Adrian Valckenier was the Director General of the VOC or the second person in the VOC after the Governor-General.

Riemsdijk then obtained a strong connection. Thanks to that, Riemsdijk was able to serve as Director General of the VOC, then Governor General of the VOC. At that time, his passion for extravagance began. During his lifetime, he was served by 200 slaves.

“Jeremias van Riemsdijk also lives in luxury. To commemorate his promotion as director-general, he purposely ordered a glass train from Europe, in addition, there were several more trains of various models and types. According to the story, Van Riemsdijk had 200 slaves. Of the many wives (5 times married) and many children who generally die in infancy, or only reach their 20s.”

“The only one who can inherit his father's fortune, is Willem Vincent Helventius van Riemsdijk. The son of the Governor General, although people say he is 'a little stupid', he was able to achieve a position as the Indies Council in 1799. The Van Riemsdijk family owned a lot of lands, one of which was located in Tanah Abang, which was sold to the government to be used as a cemetery for high-ranking VOC officials (now: Taman Prasasti Museum)," said historian Mona Lohanda in the book Sejarah Para Pembesar Mengatur Batavia (2007).

Reimsdijk's dream as the number one VOC man finally came true in 1775. However, he was too old, 63 years old. He only felt his career as a VOC official for a short time. Even though his enmity with the Church Council continued because his marriage was not approved.

Governor General Jeremias Van Riemsdijk in a different painting. (Wikimedia Commons)

However, Riemsdijk's power had to end. Riemsdijk, who was famous for his love for women, died on October 3, 1777. His departure brought deep sorrow to all the people of Batavia and all people in the VOC territory.

“Van Riemsdijk is known to like women. He was married five times to Indo women. His children were born from marriages not approved by the church. They were given the surname Kjidsmeir (read backward: Riemsdijk).”

“Riemsdijk sold his 5 hectare land in Tanah Abang I, which the Dutch colonial government used as a burial place for the Dutch elite. Now the place is used as the Taman Inscription Museum. Riemsdijk died on October 3, 1777," explained Windoro Adi in the book Batavia 1740: Menyisir Jejak Betawi (2013).