title: Jan van Elseracq
text: # Jan van Elseracq
  
  Jan van Elseracq, also known as Jan van Eserack, was a merchant/trader and official of the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC).
  
  ## Career
  
  Van Elseracq was the VOC opperhoofd starting 1 November 1641 and ending 29 October 1642. During this period, there were about 20 men at the VOC factory. He was in Edo from December 4, 1641, to March 12, 1642.
  
  He was also head of the VOC trading post from 8 November 1643 to 24 November 1644. He was in Edo for a second time in December 1643.
  
  ## Breskens affair
  
  Van Elseracq was in Japan when sailors from the Dutch ship Breskens were imprisoned by the Tokugawa shogunate. He played an important role in negotiating their release.
  
  