Joost Danielsz Koek

Evolution of a Dutch Eurasian Family

Joost Danielsz Koek, my 8th great maternal grandfather is from Middleburg, Netherlands. He was a baasscheepstimmerman, or ship’s master carpenter who came to Asia in 1675 with the ship Alexander which was from the VOC chamber of Amsterdam.¹

Occupational surnames became common in the Netherlands in the 15th–17th centuries, so the name Koek is likely derived from a baker, seller of cakes or biscuits or someone associated with ship’s provisions.

Of the Dutch men like Koek that came east, only half would return home either perishing on the journey, or through disease after arrival. Or they would stay and start families in the East which would be Koek’s destiny

The Koeks

A EURASIAN FAMILY

Joost Koek would go on to establish a family that is still represented today both in the region and internationally. In some ways how the family develops provides some insights into how the Eurasian community through a complex of interracial marriages, situational, cultural and policy issues of that era developed into a cohesive community with a shared ethnic identity reflected in their food, dress, cultural and religious practises. The subject is well detailed in Dennis de Witt’s Book, History of the Dutch in Malaysia², this article contextualises the issues in the evolution of the Koek family founded by Joost Koek.

AFTER THE PAYWALL

THE WOMEN

FREED SLAVES

PORTUGUESE EURASIAN WOMEN

THE MEN

NON DUTCH EUROPEAN MEN

German

French

Prussian

NON EUROPEAN MEN

With Portuguese names

With Dutch names

EURASIAN MEN FROM THE EAST INDIES

Some Notable Family Members