Part 4/10:
Determined to leave, Pete gathered his belongings and set off for Amsterdam. His journey was marked by rural landscapes and a sense of anticipation as he entered the bustling heart of Amsterdam. Here, he encountered Hank, a well-dressed representative of the VOC’s recruitment arm. Hank offered Pete a position on a ship, regaling him with stories of fortune and adventure, while deftly navigating the complexities of recruitment, with promises of food, lodging, and supplies in exchange for a small fee.
Unbeknownst to Pete, the eagerness of such recruitment practices often masked a more sinister reality, where crimpers and soul sellers exploited hopeful men like him, ensnaring them in a grim cycle of debt and desperation.