Hendrik Godfried Duurkoop (5 May 1736,Dornum – 27 July 1778, at sea) was a Dutch merchant-trader andVOC Opperhoofd in Japan. During his career with theDutch East Indies Company (theVerenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie orVOC), he worked on Dejima, a small artificial island in the harbor ofNagasaki, Japan.
Duurkoop was born inEast Frisia.[1] In 1755 he arrived in Batavia, where his brother lived. In 1759 he was sent to the VOC trading post or "factory" atDejima. In 1771 he was appointed bookkeeper. Duurkoop took up his duties asOpperhoofd or chief negotiant in November 1776. Early 1777 he made ahofreis to Edo.
The Japanese insisted that after one year each opperhoofd had to leave the post. During his stay inBatavia, he was infected with malaria; he died on board the ship "Huis ter Spijk" en route back to Japan in 1778.[2] His corpse was taken to Japan and buried there on August 15.[3] His death meant thatArend Willem Feith could not be relieved of his duties as Opperhoofd at Dejima for yet another year whenIsaac Titsingh would eventually arrive in 1779.
| Preceded by | VOCOpperhoofd of Dejima 1776–1777 | Succeeded by |