Hendrick Zwaardecroon

Hendrick Zwaardecroon was a merchant and official in the service of the Dutch East Indies credited with introducing the cultivation of export crops.

Zwaardecroon arrived to the Indies at the age of 17 and started his career as the commissioner-general of the Dutch East India Company, holding various offices before he was finally appointed as Governor-General in 1718.

His tenure coincided with the period of the financial difficulties for the company. His measures to boost the economy were triple and focused on the control of smuggling, introducing of new products to Java and expansion of trade with China. As part of measures, he improved the cultivation and production of indigo, cotton and sappanwood used for dye, and imported the coffee tree, an important trading commodity in the future.

Zwaardecroon was also responsible for the repression (1721) of the so-called conspiracy of Pieter Erberfelt, who allegedly plotted to expel the Dutch from the Indies.