Renier van Tzum

Renier van Tzum also known as Tzom or Reijnjer van't Zum,[1] (c. 1600/1606 in Tzum – 21 September 1670 in IJlst), was a merchant/trader and official of the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC).

[9] On 29 September 1645 Van Tzum arrived on Deshima, starting as the VOC opperhoofd or chief factor on 24 November 1645.

As presents Van Tzum handed over spectacles, magnifying glasses, optical lenses, also ones that could be used in a darkroom, and medicines.

[2] Upon his return to Nagasaki, the chief factor was informed by the interpreters that Nanjing had been occupied by the Qing dynasty and that Zheng Zhilong had sent a request for military support to the bakufu.

Sixty men settled for one year on the mainland, but Van Tzum had sailed back earlier on one of the other two ships.

[15] The next year he was elected as deputee to the States of Friesland and in 1658 in a board, checking the provincial finances.

Ayutthaya (city) around 1665, with Dutch settlement on the square island south of the middle.
Dejima ca 1650. From: Arnoldus Montanus : Gedenkwaerdige Gesantschappen der Oost-Indische Maetschappy in't Vereenigde Nederland, aen de Kaisaren van Japan . 1669
Tombstone of Reynier van Tzum and his wife on churchyard in IJlst