Jan Karel van den Broek
Encyclopedia
Jan Karel van den Broek was a Dutch
physician
based in Nagasaki, Japan
. In Nagasaki he taught medicine, chemistry and photography.
Jan Karel van den Broek was born in Herwijnen
, the Netherlands
. After completing his medical education in Rotterdam
he started practising in Arnhem
in 1837. There he became an active member of the Physical Society 'Tot nut en vergenoegen' (For benefit and pleasure). He gave numerous lectures and demonstrations for the members of the society and organised courses for the public. In 1852, he surprised his friends with his decision to leave for the Dutch East Indies
. Before his departure he was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Groningen for his research on the human ear. In the Indies he worked for a short term as physician at Cirebon
, Java
, after which he was appointed to Dejima
in Japan, arriving there on 1 August 1853.
Soon Van den Broek found out that there was little demand for his medical aid but much more for his aid in a variety of other technological disciplines. He helped the Japanese in constructing iron foundries, reverbatory ovens, shipbuilding, steam engines and their construction, the making of sulphuric acid and other chemicals, etc. In December 1854 he started work on a Japanese-Dutch/Dutch-Japanese dictionary which kept him occupied till the end of his life. In 1856, at the request of the Japanese authorities, he started lessons in photography to Japanese students, among whom were Furukawa Shumpei and Yoshio Keisai.
In 1857 he was sent back to Batavia
by the director of the Dutch Factory on Dejima, J.H. Donker Curtius, who had developed a strong dislike for the doctor. Van den Broek returned to The Netherlands in 1859 and tried to clear his name from the accusations of Donker Curtius, in which he finally succeeded in 1859. Dr Van den Broek died in Apeldoorn
on 23 May 1865.
His papers, and the draft of his dictionary, are kept by the Municipal Library of Arnhem. His official correspondence is in the National Archive at The Hague.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
based in Nagasaki, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In Nagasaki he taught medicine, chemistry and photography.
Jan Karel van den Broek was born in Herwijnen
Herwijnen
Herwijnen is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is a part of the municipality of Lingewaal, and lies about 11 km east of Gorinchem.Herwijnen was a separate municipality until 1986, when it was merged with Vuren, Asperen, Heukelum and...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. After completing his medical education in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
he started practising in Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
in 1837. There he became an active member of the Physical Society 'Tot nut en vergenoegen' (For benefit and pleasure). He gave numerous lectures and demonstrations for the members of the society and organised courses for the public. In 1852, he surprised his friends with his decision to leave for the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. Before his departure he was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Groningen for his research on the human ear. In the Indies he worked for a short term as physician at Cirebon
Cirebon
Cirebon is a port city on the north coast of the Indonesian island of Java. It is located in the province of West Java near the provincial border with Central Java, approximately 297 km east of Jakarta, at .The seat of a former Sultanate, the city's West and Central Java border location have...
, Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, after which he was appointed to Dejima
Dejima
was a small fan-shaped artificial island built in the bay of Nagasaki in 1634. This island, which was formed by digging a canal through a small peninsula, remained as the single place of direct trade and exchange between Japan and the outside world during the Edo period. Dejima was built to...
in Japan, arriving there on 1 August 1853.
Soon Van den Broek found out that there was little demand for his medical aid but much more for his aid in a variety of other technological disciplines. He helped the Japanese in constructing iron foundries, reverbatory ovens, shipbuilding, steam engines and their construction, the making of sulphuric acid and other chemicals, etc. In December 1854 he started work on a Japanese-Dutch/Dutch-Japanese dictionary which kept him occupied till the end of his life. In 1856, at the request of the Japanese authorities, he started lessons in photography to Japanese students, among whom were Furukawa Shumpei and Yoshio Keisai.
In 1857 he was sent back to Batavia
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
by the director of the Dutch Factory on Dejima, J.H. Donker Curtius, who had developed a strong dislike for the doctor. Van den Broek returned to The Netherlands in 1859 and tried to clear his name from the accusations of Donker Curtius, in which he finally succeeded in 1859. Dr Van den Broek died in Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn is a municipality and city in the province of Gelderland, about 60 miles south east of Amsterdam, in the centre of the Netherlands. It is a regional centre and has 155,000 . The municipality of Apeldoorn, including villages like Beekbergen, Loenen and Hoenderloo, has over 155,000...
on 23 May 1865.
His papers, and the draft of his dictionary, are kept by the Municipal Library of Arnhem. His official correspondence is in the National Archive at The Hague.