Arriving in the latter place in December 1658, Dirck Wilre decided to join the Dutch West India Company.

[1] By 1660, Wilre had climbed the ranks to become head merchant or oppercommies at Fort Nassau near Moree.

[2] After Director-General Van Heussen died in 1662 of a tropical fever, Wilre was installed as acting Governor-General.

[3] In Elmina, Wilre fathered three children with Helena Correa, a Euro-African daughter of a former governor of Fort Santo Antonio at Axim who was previously married to Jan Valckenburgh.

[5] In 1669, during his term as Director-General, Dirck Wilre was painted by Pieter de Wit, probably together with Willem Godschalck van Focquenbroch, who served in Elmina as fiscal.