Bernard Fokke
Encyclopedia
Bernard or Barend Fokke, sometimes known as Barend Fockesz, was a 17th-century Frisian
-born captain
for the Dutch East India Company
. He was renowned for the uncanny speed of his trips from Holland to Java. For example, in 1678 he traveled the distance in 3 months and 4 (or 10) days, delivering governor Rijckloff van Goens
a stack of letters from which the traveling time could be confirmed. In later times a statue
was erected of him on the small island Kuipertje near the harbor of Batavia. The statue was destroyed by the English in 1808.
His fast trips caused people to suspect that he was aided by the Devil
, and he is often considered to have been a model for the legendary captain of the Flying Dutchman, a ghostly ship doomed to sail the seas forever.
Frisians
The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. They are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany, East Frisia and North Frisia, that was a part of Denmark until 1864. They inhabit an area known as Frisia...
-born captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
for the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
. He was renowned for the uncanny speed of his trips from Holland to Java. For example, in 1678 he traveled the distance in 3 months and 4 (or 10) days, delivering governor Rijckloff van Goens
Rijckloff van Goens
Rijckloff van Goens was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1678-1681. He wrote extensively about his travels to Ceylon and India....
a stack of letters from which the traveling time could be confirmed. In later times a statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
was erected of him on the small island Kuipertje near the harbor of Batavia. The statue was destroyed by the English in 1808.
His fast trips caused people to suspect that he was aided by the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
, and he is often considered to have been a model for the legendary captain of the Flying Dutchman, a ghostly ship doomed to sail the seas forever.