In 1687, Hertenberg sailed to the Dutch East Indies in the ship De Groote Vischerij as Third Surgeon.
Between June and September 1712 he was asked to be interim Governor of Makassar, following the death of Gerrit van Toll and until the arrival of his successor Joannes Sipman.
In September 1716 he became commander of Malabar, in which position he generally had a good relationship with the Zamorin of Calicut.
Jacob de Jong became commander of Malabar and Hertenberg took office in Colombo on 12 January 1724.
He seemed to have good relations with the local ruler, the King of Kandy, but died within two years in office on 19 October 1725.