Varrin in front of the 2nd West India Company headquarters
According to numerous sources, Gerret Van Sweringen, my ~13th great grandfather, was employed by the Dutch West India Company (WIC or GWIC). He was born in 1635 (or 1636), well after the WIC was formed in 1621. The WIC had two ‘permanent’ headquarters from its founding until after Gerret’s time with the company. The first was located on the Herenmarkt in Amsterdam and served as the headquarters of the WIC from 1623 to 1647. The second was a warehouse constructed in 1641 or 1642 (both dates appear on the building) and the headquarters moved there in 1647.
Varrin at the first West India Company headquarters
A few days ago, I visited both headquarters buildings of the WIC in Amsterdam. Both are marked in such a way that it’s possible to identify them as WIC buildings. The WIC, however, has not operated since the late-1700s.
Gerret left for the new world as the supercargo on the Prince Maurice in 1656. At the first WIC headquarters, there is a statue of Peter Stuyvesant, governor of New Amsterdam (now New York) from 1647 to 1664. When the Prince Maurice shipwrecked in Long Island (reported as Fire Island in many sources), Stuyvesant sent a rescue boat to pick up the people and what cargo they were able to salvage. Subsequently, a ship chartered by Stuyvesant took the remaining cargo and people to New Amstel (now New Castle, DE), including Gerret.
Statue of Peter Stuyvesant at the first West India Company headquarters in Amsterdam
By that time (1657), the headquarters had moved to a warehouse constructed in 1641 or 1642 (both dates appear on the building). I presume it’s likely that Gerret spent some time at that second headquarters building. It’s unclear how long they occupied that second headquarters building, but the company was dissolved in 1674 and reformed in 1675.
Had it not been for all that, I wouldn’t be here writing the story of my visit. I’m thankful that many people who came before me took the time to document so much of our family’s history. I hope you enjoy the pictures.
V-
P.S. Pardon my laziness, but I’m going to forgo citing the numerous sources that support the above narrative. They’re all easily found online.