Gerard Pietersz Hulft

After concluding his law studies Gerard Hulft was made Secretary to the City Council in 1645, a position he held until 1653.

After the war he lost his job as Secretary due to an administrative conflict with the burgomasters, when he refused to change the wording.

[2] Enlisting with the VOC, where his brother Joan was a governor, he left for Batavia in April 1654, carrying letters nominating him either as Governor-General or Director-General of the Indies.

During his staying in Ceylon he maintained cordial relations with Rajasinghe II of Sri Lanka, the most powerful king of the island.

This happened a month before the surrender of Colombo and two weeks after his visit to the Royal Palace, as described by the Dutch minister and orientalist Philippus Baldaeus.