Wolfert Simon van Hoogenheim (c. 1730[2] – 2 April 1794) was a Dutch States Army officer and colonial administrator who served as the governor of Berbice from 1760 to 1764.
On 23 February 1763, slaves on plantation Magdalenenberg on the Canje River in Berbice rebelled, protesting harsh and inhumane treatment.
They torched the plantation house,[6] and made for the Courantyne River where Caribs and troops commanded by Governor Wigbold Crommelin [nl] of Suriname attacked, and killed them.
[7] On 27 February 1763, a revolt took place on plantation Hollandia on the Berbice River next to Lilienburg where Coffy was an enslaved man working as a cooper.
[13] In April 1763, Coffy started peace negotiations suggesting to split Berbice into a European and an African part.
[17] The uprising lead to a steep population decline,[18] abandonment and destruction of many plantations, and serious financial problems for the Society of Berbice.
[19] At the end of 1763, van Hoogenheim started work on a rehabilitation plan which included better forts, 400 soldiers and financial support for the planters.