Windlifters

Bewindhebber is a Dutch term for various management functions. In particular, a wind lifter is understood to mean a commander , director or head of the Dutch East India Company ( Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie , VOC 1602 to 1795) and the Dutch West India Company ( West Indische Compagnie , WIC 1621 to 1792).

The term can be broadly defined and used for other corporate governance , management ( beheerder, bestuurder, voerder ) functions in a province, municipality, company, association or foundation.

history

In Dutch history , Bewindhebber was an official name in the trading cities of the VOC and the WIC for administrative and administrative areas with powers. These chiefs were elected by the respective Vroedschap .

When the VOC was set up, there were 77 heads. This number was later reduced to 60 windlifters. Thereof 20 in Amsterdam , 12 in Zeeland and seven in Rotterdam , Delft , Hoorn and Enkhuizen . In 1674 the second WIC was built with around 50 windlifters, employed for six years. Later this was in principle a lifelong task. They belonged to the top tier of the hierarchy of the two companies.

Well-known personalities as Bewindhebber (head) were at the time of the VOC and the WIC:

Willem Janszoon van Loon (1537–1618), VOC wind lifter. Jan van Loon (1677–1763), WIC wind lifter. Nicolaas Witsen (1641–1717) VOC wind lifter. François Cornelis van Aerssen van Sommelsdijk (1725–1793), wind lifter for the VOC in Rotterdam. Ferdinand van Collen (1651–1735), WIC windlass. Fredrick Alewijn (1737–1804), wind lifter at the VOC in Amsterdam. Pieter de Graeff (1638–1707), VOC windlass. Michiel Pauw (1590–1640), WIC wind lifter. Cornelis de Graeff (1599–1664), VOC windlass.

Synonyms

In the Dutch language, the term Bewindhebber is now synonymous with, among other things:

• Minister , ruler ( heerser ), regency ( regent ), governor , also: Bewindsman .
• Insolvency administrator ( bewindvoerder ).
• Authorized representative , agent (made , authorized ), delegate ( gedelegeerde ).
• Authority ( gezagdrager ), power ( gezaghebber ), comparable to a mayor of a Dutch municipality.
• Judge ( right ), ruling ( regeerder, bestuurder ).
• Director ( directeur, bestuurder ), manager , head ( unfortunately ).
• Head , Administration ( Voerman ).

further reading

• Henk den Heijer: De geoctrooieerde compagnie. De VOC en de WIC as voorlopers van de naamloze vennotschap (= Ars notariatus 128). Pp. 116-125. Uitgeverij Kluwer, Deventer 2005. ISBN 90-13022-84-7

Web links

Commons : Dutch language  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Bewindhebber (Dutch)
• Synonyms for Bewindhebber (Dutch)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Bewindhebber in Pierer's Lexicon. 1857–1865. Retrieved June 17, 2011
2. ↑ Archives of the VOC (Dutch)