Career
He was one of the first of the VOC"s subscribers in 1602. Also Van Beuningen was at first a merchant in dairy products, but became one of the biggest shareholder in the VOC. In 1623 Van Beuningen bought all the pepper shipped and on its way to Amsterdam. This action proved profitable to him and which was later followed by others
Van Beuningen moved from the Kalverstraat to the Sint Antoniesbreestraat, living next to Pieter Lastman, who taught Rembrandt in those years.
Van Beuningen was known as a Remonstrant, and were not churchgoers, anti-Calvinists, tolerant and supporters of peace with Spain. From the hand of Vondel the following anecdote on Van Beuningen"s is known: scarcely recovered from a heavy illness, he wanted to go to the city hall, where a crucial decision was about to be taken.
Van Beuningen was taking advice from the doctor Nicolaes Tulp and a second opinion from a Roman Catholic physician. The latter one told him to travel with Tulp, also a fierce Calvinist, in his carriage to the city hall.
