Only 26, both hated and respected, he came to be called "father" by his subordinates and even business counterparts.
運好不怕「倒」著來提起鄭芝龍，無論中國人或荷蘭人，對這個囂張的大海盜都又愛又恨。包樂史教授在鑽研中荷關係史之餘，私底下對之亦頗為忻慕。他表示，明末為了抵抗北方韃虜，國庫空虛，前景黯淡，福建沿海幾乎成了「鄭家天下」。