Gerard Reynst

Gerard Reynst was a Dutch merchant who served as the second Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies.

Born in Amsterdam in a family of a soap boiler, Gerard has built a distinguished career of a merchant, ship-owner and official in the service of the Dutch East India Company. Gerrard was a founding member of the Nieuwe or Brabantsche Compagnie (1599) which was a precursor of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) founded three years later. In 1613 Gerrit was appointed to the position of Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, but he didn’t leave a mark on that field as he was stricken with dysentery soon after his arrival. He spent most time on the board sailing between fortified factories in the Moluccas and Bantam, and died a year and a half after the arrival.

Although his governorship was marked by modest accomplishments due to his poor health, Gerrard is credited with initiating trade relations with the Arabs in the Red Sea, and is considered the founder of the Dutch trade in that area.

Gerrard was in marriage with Margriet Niquet from a wealthy merchant family with whom he had two sons, Jan and Gerrard, a notable merchants and art collectors.