A young VOC official—J.C.M Radermacher was interested in arts and sciences in the Indies. Radermacher suggested the establishment of an association in Batavia similar to the Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen [HMW] in Haarlem.
A young VOC official, J.C.M Radermacher, who had an interest in arts and sciences in the Indies, proposed creating a similar organization in Batavia to that found in Haarlem—the Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen [HMW].