Hendrik Duurkoop's gravestone seems to be the oldest European grave marker in Japan. The inscription is still clearly legible. Duurkoop was a Dutch merchant-trader and diplomat. As a young man of 18 years old, he became sailor on a ship of the Dutch East India Company. An older brother had preceded him. In the Dutch East Indies he was soon appointed as ‘assistant merchant'. In 1759 he was transferred to Deshima, a tiny, artificial island in the harbour of Nagasaki. There, the Dutch had a trading post. Since 1640 they were the only Westerners allowed in Japan. In 1776 Duurkoop was appointed ‘Opperhoofd'. That was the chief of the trading post. His main task was now to maintain good relations with the Japanese administrators. The ‘Opperhoofd' used to be appointed for a year. In December 1777 Duurkoop was back in Java, to give an account to the Governor. After his appointment had been renewed, he sailed back with the ship ‘Huis te Spijk', but under way he died. According to the archives this happened on July 27th, 1778 (and not August 15th). His body was transported to Japan in a lead coffin.
Hendrik Duurkoop's gravestone seems to be the oldest European grave marker in Japan. The inscription is still clearly legible. Duurkoop was a Dutch merchant-trader and diplomat. As a young man of 18 years old, he became sailor on a ship of the Dutch East India Company. An older brother had preceded him. In the Dutch East Indies he was soon appointed as ‘assistant merchant'. In 1759 he was transferred to Deshima, a tiny, artificial island in the harbour of Nagasaki. There, the Dutch had a trading post. Since 1640 they were the only Westerners allowed in Japan. In 1776 Duurkoop was appointed ‘Opperhoofd'. That was the chief of the trading post. His main task was now to maintain good relations with the Japanese administrators. The ‘Opperhoofd' used to be appointed for a year. In December 1777 Duurkoop was back in Java, to give an account to the Governor. After his appointment had been renewed, he sailed back with the ship ‘Huis te Spijk', but under way he died. According to the archives this happened on July 27th, 1778 (and not August 15th). His body was transported to Japan in a lead coffin.
Inscription
Sine mora volat hora. / Ter Gedagtenisse / van het Hier Rustend Gebeente / van Wylen Den Weledelen / Achtbaaren Heer / Hendrik Godfried Duurkoop / Opperkoopman en Opperhoofd / vanwege den Handel / der Nederlandsche Geoctroieerde / O.I.C. / Geboren te Doornum, O. Vriesland / 5. May 1736 / Overleden op 't schip 't Huis Tespeyk / op N.B. / 15. Augustus 1778
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