page_title: Renier van Tzum
section_title: Japan
hierarchical_section_title: Renier van Tzum / Life / Japan
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Dejima / Deshima Sitz der Handelsniederlassung der niederländischen Ostindien-Kompanie in Nagasaki (Japan) während der Edo-Zeit
context_page_description: Renier van Tzum also known as Tzom or Reijnjer van't Zum, was a merchant/trader and official of the Dutch East India Company.
context_section_description: On 29 September 1645 Van Tzum arrived on Deshima,  starting as the VOC opperhoofd or chief factor on 24 November 1645. As head of the Dutch trading post, he traveled to Edo.
  He departed from Nagasaki on December 31, on a ship with six fellow Dutchmen. They reached the capital on February 7. As presents Van Tzum handed over spectacles, magnifying glasses, optical lenses, also ones that could be used in a darkroom, and medicines. On February 12 he met with Inoue Masashige.
  In Edo, Van Tzum was asked if he had come to Edo with gifts to thank the shōgun for the release of the Dutch prisoners or if he had come to pay his respects in the usual manner. Van Tzum answered that he had come to do both, but this answer did not satisfy the bakufu. On March 8, Inoue informed van Tzum that the Dutch did not appear to adequately value the release of the Dutch prisoners.
  Upon his return to Nagasaki, the chief factor was informed by the interpreters that Nanking had been occupied by the Ching Dynasty and that Ikkan had sent a request for military support to the bakufu.  Two junks arrived in Nagasaki from Nanking.  The crew members of these junks had been forced to wear pigtails.  The bakufu prohibited any dealings with ships from Nanking.
  Van Tzum succeeding in getting permission to export copper. He handed over the factory to his successor, Verstegen, on October 7, 1646. Three weeks later on 27 October 1646 he left Japan.
caption: Dejima ca 1650. From: Arnoldus Montanus: Gedenkwaerdige Gesantschappen der Oost-Indische Maetschappy in't Vereenigde Nederland, aen de Kaisaren van Japan. 1669
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