Governor-General Jan Pietersz Coen

Unknown artist

With the founding of Batavia in 1619, Coen, Governor- General of the Dutch East Indies, took the first steps towards creating a colonial empire. His pursuit of overseas property ran counter to the aims of the Dutch East India Company’s directors, who were interested solely in establishing trading posts. Coen’s undertaking involved military manoeuvres that wreaked havoc with the indigenous people. At upper left is Coen’s coat of arms, a coconut palm.