The late Cornelia Wilhelmina Knaap-De Bruijn, my mother for helping me each year through the mid-year crisis on the secondary school, in hindsight thus preparing me for higher education.
The late Gerrit Adriaan Knaap, my father for allowing me, the eldest son, not to take over the family farm and to study at the university.
The late professor Piet ‘t Hart of Utrecht University, who introduced me to archival research in the National Archives in The Hague.
The late professor Theo van Tijn, who introduced me to the field of societal history and later was to become my promotor.
Dr Jurrien van Goor, who introduced me to the VOC archives, stimulated me to write a Ph.D. thesis and became my co-promotor.
The late professor Pieter Drooglever, who helped me to take hurdles in my early career and became a befriended colleague.
Professor emeritus Petra Groen, who introduced me to a world of military historians and thus helped me to get on with my career.
The late professor Peter Boomgaard, with whom I worked together every now and then, while respecting each other’s work very much.
Professor emeritus Heather Sutherland, with whom I worked together on the harbourmasters’ specifications, which even brought me to the NIAS in Wassenaar.
Wim Manuhutu, who popped up every now and then and always had a stimulating word for my work.
Dr Luc Nagtegaal, a fellow traveller in VOC studies from Utrecht University during my early and middle career.
The late Dr Koos Noorduyn, who was instrumental for starting my middle career through employing me in the KITLV in Leiden.
Dr Harry Poeze, a colleague from the KITLV, who enabled me to publish many a book title.
Rosemary Robson McKillop, who still is the corrector of my English written publications and does that with great fervour.
Professor Leonard Blussé van Oud-Alblas, a long-time colleague and friend from Leiden University, who also had me in his TANAP network.
Rob van Diessen of Asia Maior publishers for allowing me to take part in his ‘Grote Atlas van de VOC’ series.
Dr Donald Haks, who was instrumental for the beginning of my late career by employing me in the Institute of Netherlands History in The Hague.
Dr Ton Kappelhof, my right hand in the overseas history programme of the Institute of Netherlands History, a great friend and colleague.
Dr Els Jacobs, a stimulating colleague, who stood at the roots of the Bookkeeper General Batavia project at the Institute of Netherlands History.
Dr Rik Hoekstra, a great colleague and cooperative member from the digital humanities’ sector of the Institute of Netherlands History.
Professor Leen Dorsman, a ‘rediscovered’ colleague from Utrecht University, having a ‘human touch’ in managing the history department in Utrecht.
Professor George Bryan Souza, Series editor of Expansion in History; Wendel Scholma, acquisition editor of Koninklijke Brill NV; Alessandra Giliberto, associate editor of Koninklijke Brill NV and Wilma de Weert, production editor of Koninklijke Brill NV. Professor emeritus Femme Gaastra, Leiden University; Dr Arend de Roever; Dr Jaap de Moor; Professor emeritus Nigel Worden, University of Cape Town; Dr Willem Remmelink; Dr Reinout Vos, Department of Foreign Affairs, The Hague.