Opperhoofd: Information from Answers.com

Opperhoofd is a Dutch word (plural Opperhoofden) which literally means 'supreme head(man)'. The Danish equivalent Opperhoved, which is derived from a Danish pronunciation of the Dutch word, is also treated here.

In modern Dutch, Opperhoofd remains in use for a native tribal chief, such as a Sachem of Native Americans. Despite the superlative etymology, it can be applied to several chiefs in a single native community.

However this article is devoted to its more former, historical use as a gubernatorial title, comparable to the English chief factor, for the chief executive officer of a Dutch factory in the sense of trading post, as lead by a factor, i.e. agent.

1 Dutch colonial Opperhoofden
- 1.1 In Asia
- 1.2 In Africa
2 Danish colonial Opperhoved
3 See also
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links

Dutch colonial Opperhoofden

In Asia

The factory established on 20 September 1609 at Hirado by the Dutch East India Company (VOC), next in 1641, as the Dutch factory was moved by order of the Shogunate thereto, on Dejima (Desjima in purist Dutch, or Latinized as Decima) Island, in Nagasaki Bay.^[1] The trading post was maintained under the Dutch state after the 1795 end of VOC administration till on 28 February 1860 Dejima was abandoned. For a full list of its Opperhoofden, see VOC Opperhoofden in Japan.

In Africa

The Dutch Fort Lijdzaamheid (Lydsaamheid)[1], was established by the VOC (Dutch East India Company) in March 1721 as a naval support point at Delagoa Bay, near modern day Mozambique's capital Maputo. It was subordinate to the Dutch Cape colony. The Dutch abandoned the post on December 27, 1730. Its opperhoofden (chiefs) were:
- Mar 1721 - May 1721 Willem van Taak
- May 1721 - Apr 1722 Casparus Swertner
- From April 19 till Jun 28, 1722 pirates led by Taylor occupied the settlement
- Jun 1722 - May 1724 Jean Michel
- Jun 1724 - May 1726 Jan van de Capelle (1st time)
- May 1726 - Jan 1727 Jan de Koning (died of malaria January 8, 1727)
- Jan 1727 - Dec 1730 Jan van de Capelle (2nd time)
Mauritius, since 1638 a Dutch colony under the chartered VOC, was governed by an Opperhoofd/Commande(u)r until it was abandoned on 17 February 1710. In September 1715, the island was claimed for France and (temporarily) renamed Île de France, like the French region around Paris, by the passing French sailor Guillaume Dufresne D'Arsel.

Danish colonial Opperhoved

The etymologically perfectly parallel title Opperhoved (singular) had a similar gubernatorial use (sometimes rendered in English as Station Chief), notably in the Danish Gold Coast (in present Ghana).