Van der Hagen’s Embassy to Gresik (1607)

This commemorative item, produced by Bernardus Mourik in 1771, depicts Admiral Steven van der Hagen’s 1607 diplomatic mission to the King of Gresik in Surabaya, Java. It features symbolic references to naval power, royalty, sailors, and the textile trade—key elements of early VOC (Dutch East India Company) operations. The artifact reflects the political and commercial ambitions of the Dutch in Southeast Asia during the early 17th century.