Complex sentence: In 1656 he joined as a soldier in the Dutch East India Company and rose rapidly, becoming an ensign by 1661 and served under Admiral Rijcklof van Goens in campaigns against the Portuguese on the west coast of India.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1656 he joined as a soldier in the Dutch East India Company and rose rapidly, becoming an ensign. Van Rheede served under Admiral Rijcklof van Goens in campaigns against the Portuguese on the west coast of India.