Hurdt spent his initial career in the eastern part of what is now Indonesia. VOC records show he arrived in Batavia on 22 July 1652. He was then posted to Ambon to serve as secretary. From 1657 to 1661 he became a VOC leader in Lontor, Banda Islands. He then served various positions in multiple locations, including Ambon, Banjarmasin, Timor and Banda. From 1672 to 1678, he was the VOC Governor of Ambon; he finished his term just before being assigned to Java.
In mid 1678 Hurdt was appointed to command VOC forces on the coast of Java. He replaced Admiral Cornelis Speelman who went to Batavia to become the VOC Director-General. The VOC was campaigning in Java to help its ally the Mataram Sultanate to defeat Trunajaya, Mataram's former subject who led a major rebellion. Hurdt was selected despite his lack of experience in Java or military experience anywhere. He arrived in Java on July 1678. He—now titled "Superintendent, Admiral, Campaign- and War-Commander"—then led the campaign to take Kediri, Trunajaya's capital and stronghold in inland Java. During this campaign the VOC marched together with the Mataram forces led by its king Amangkurat II. After a series of marches beset by logistical difficulties, the Mataram–VOC forces took Kediri by storm on 25 November. This campaign was VOC's first exploration of the Javanese inland. VOC's account of the journey was recorded by Hurdt's secretary Johan Jurgen Briel, and this journal later became an important historical source. After the taking of Kediri, Hurdt left for Batavia and his command was taken by Christiaan Poleman.
Political career in Batavia
In January 1684 Speelman—who had been Governor-General since 1681—died. Hurdt was one of the contenders to replace him, but the Council of the Indies instead appointed Joannes Camphuys, who was supported by the younger faction of the Council. Hurdt was appointed Director-General—the second-highest officer after Governor-General. After this point, the Council of the Indies was split between the supporters of Camphuys and Hurdt. The dispute culminated in 1687, when Hurdt refused to attend the Council's meetings, and eventually was expelled from the council by the VOC directorate in Amsterdam.
Personal character
In M. C. Ricklefs's War, Culture and Economy in Java, 1677–1726 he is described to be "a short, pock-marked Dutchman" who was in his forties when he took over the military command in Java in 1678.
