Mattheus de Haan

Mattheus de Haan was a Dutch merchant and Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1725 to 1729.

Born in Dordrecht, western Netherlands Mattheus went to the Dutch Indies as eight years old boy with his father who was in the company’s service. His rise within the company was steady and quick. He started as provisional assistant at Surat in 1676, to become under-merchant (onderkoopman) in 1685 and merchant (koopman) in 1695.

Thereafter Mattheus was transferred to Batavia, the company’s headquarters, and two years later, in 1698, he was promoted to the post of the First Senior Buyer (eerste opperkoopman). He held various functions in the Dutch Council of the Indies before he was appointed Director-General in 1722, and Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies in 1724.