Dutch Empire

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A map showing the territory that the Netherlands held at various points in history. Dark green indicates land administered by the Dutch West India Company, light green the Dutch East India Company.
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A map showing the territory that the Netherlands held at various points in history. Dark green indicates land administered by the Dutch West India Company, light green the Dutch East India Company.

The Dutch Empire is the name given to the various territories controlled by the Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Spain and Portugal in establishing a colonial empire outside of continental Europe. Their skills in shipping and trading and the surge of nationalism and militarism accompanying the struggle for independence from Spain aided the venture. Alongside the British, the Dutch initially built up colonial possessions on the basis of corporate colonialism, with the Dutch East India Company dominant. State intervention in the colonial enterprise came later. Dutch sailors also participated in the surge of exploration that unfolded in the 16th and 17th centuries, though the vast new territories revealed by Barents, Hudson and Tasman in the Arctic and in Australasia/Oceania did not generally become permanent Dutch colonies.

The Netherlands reigned supreme during much of the 17th century, which is known as Dutch Golden Age. The Netherlands lost many of its colonial possessions to the British when the metropole succumbed to French conquest/control/annexation from 1795 to 1814. The restored portions of the Dutch empire, notably the Dutch East Indies/ (Indonesia), Suriname and The Netherlands Antilles remained under Amsterdam's control until the decline of traditional imperialism in the 20th century.


Contents

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New Netherlands

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New Sweden

Fort Christina (1614 - 1674), now part of the United States of America

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Albany, New York

Fort Nassau en Fort Oranje, (1615-1661/1673-1674) to the English (Albany)

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New York City, New York

Nieuw Amsterdam, (1626-1664 / 1665-1667 (2nd Anglo Dutch War- exchange with Suriname)1673-74 >> Treaty of Westminster (to the English)

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The East

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East Indies

In the beginning of the 17th century most major European powers flocked to take over the East Indies for its natural resources and strategic standpoints. In the end, the Dutch overcame the British and Portuguese for ownership of the archipelago. These islands became a major economic benefit to the Netherlands through the Dutch East India Company(VOC). On December 27, 1949 the Dutch granted independence to Indonesia after major losses to the Netherlands in World War II and Japanese occupation. Netherlands New Guinea stayed part of the Netherlands until August 15, 1962.

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Malaya

The Dutch captured Malacca on the west coast of Malaya (now West Malaysia) in 1641 from the Portuguese. It was in turn ceded to the British in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824.

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Deshima

First, the Dutch maintained a trading post at Hirado, from 1609-1641. Later, the Japanese granted the Dutch a trade monopoly on Japan, but solely on Deshima, an artificial island off the coast of Nagasaki, Japan, from 1641 to 1853.

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Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

After ousting Portuguese power in the late 16th century, the Dutch gained control of Ceylon in 1600 and remained a very large trading post until overtaken by none other than the British in 1802. Ceylon was a very important trading post for the Netherlands because it was a half-way point between Indonesia and South Africa, so one could imagine how prosperous the little island became.

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Ceylon islands

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Bengalen (Bangladesh)

Dutch factories and plantations in what nowadays is Bangladesh.

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India

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Suratte

Surat (1616-1795)

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Malabar

(Southern part of Westcoast India)

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Coromandel

(Eastcoast India)

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Birma (Myanmar)

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Siam (Thailand)

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Tonkin/Annam (Vietnam)

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Persia (Iran)

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Mesopotamia (Iraq)

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Yemen

    • Al Mukha (Mocca), (1620-16.. / 1697-1757)
    • Aden (1614-1620)
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Mauritius

(1638-1658/ 1664-1710)

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South Africa

In 1652 the Netherlands wanted territory that was roughly half-way between the Dutch East Indies and the Dutch West Indies. South Africa was chosen because it was easily accessible and the large amount of natives there were not unified and therefore easy to oust. Great Britain seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1797 during the Fifth Anglo-Dutch War, and annexed it in 1805.

Cities, founded by the Dutch in the Cape Colony;

  • Kaapstad or De Kaap (Cape Town): Fort Sand (1647), Fort (wooden fort) (1652), Redoubt Kyckuit (1652), Redoubt Duinhoop (1652), Fort Goede Hoop (1666).

1647-1648/1652-1795/ 1802-1806 (to the English)

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Formosa (Taiwan)

The Dutch maintained a base on Taiwan from 1624 until 1662, when they were driven away by Koxinga.

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Pescadores Islands

Pescadores Islands Castle, (1620-1624 (August 25))

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New Zeeland

    • Corandèl (Today; Nieuw-Zeeland / New Zeeland, first discovered by polynesian seafarers (Maori)c.800-1000 years ago and secondly discovered by Abel Janszoon Tasman and named after the Dutch province Zeeland)
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The West

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Netherlands Antilles

In 1493 and 1499 these two groups of islands in the Caribbean were charted by the Spanish Empire and considered Spanish territory. In 1634 the Netherlands conquered these islands from the Spain, one of the many losses that the Spaniards had to endure during the Dutch Revolt when the Netherlands won their independence from Spain.

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Suriname

In 1600 Dutch explorers came across an unmarked section of the northern coast of South America. With little resistance by small tribes of natives, the Dutch conquered this area and named it Suriname. Shortly after, the British came across sea to take over this area, and many heated battles took place but the area was never fully taken over by the British. Finally, at the end of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, the British were forced to leave Suriname alone and give full control to the Netherlands with the Treaty of Breda. In 1954 it was part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and in 1975 full independence was granted.

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Guyana

In the 16th century European settlers first arrived in this area of north Latin America, the Netherlands being the fastest to claim the land. Around 1600 was the first trade route established by the Dutch. Eventually the Netherlands planted three colonies to further mark the territory under the Netherlands rule; Essequibo (1616), Berbice (1627), and Demerara (1752). The British started attacking Guyana in the late 18th century. Slowly the Netherlands lost control of Guyana starting in 1814 and in 1831 the area fell under British rule.

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Chile

    • Chiloë; (occupation Chiloe island by Brouwer- occupation of the city of Valdivia) in 1643
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(Dutch) Brazil

The Dutch conquered half the Capitanas (from 1624 - 1654), nowadays part of Brazil

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Virgin Islands (partly)

(1625 - 1680), now the British Virgin Islands

  • St. Croix (1625-1650)(Dutch in the East, English in the West)/1650
  • Tortola (1648-1672) to the English
  • Anegada (16..-1680) to the English
  • Virgin Gorda (16..-1680) to the English
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Tobago

'Nieuw-Walcheren' (1628 - 1677), nowadays part of Trinidad and Tobago

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Brazil

The Dutch conquered half the Portuguese Capitanas from 1624 - 1654.

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Ghana (Gold Coast)

1637-1872

    • Cape Apollonia (Benyin): Fort Apollonia (16.-1768 / 1868-1872) to the English.
    • Abacqua (Duma or Egwira): Fort Ruychaver (Jul./Aug. 1654 - 1659)
    • Mouth of Ankobra: Fort Elise Carthago (1650)
    • Axim: Fort Santo Antonio (Feb. 1642 – 1664 / 1665 – 1872)
    • Poquefoe or Pokesu (Princess Town): Fort Hollandia (Gross Friedrichsburg) 1725 fort - 1814/1815 abandoned/1687* - 1698/1711 – 1712/1732 - 1804 abandoned
    • Dixcove: Fort Metaal Kruis (1868 - 1872)
    • Butri: Fort Batenstein (1656 - 1665 / 166..-1872)
    • Takoradi: Fort Witsen
    • Sekondi: (1782 – 1785)
    • Sekondi: Fort Oranje (1640 or 1670/75 - 1872)
    • Shama: Fort San Sebastian (1637 - 1664 / 1664 – 1872)
    • Komenda: Fort Komenda (1868 - 1872)
    • Komenda: Fort Vredenburgh (1688 fort – 1782 / 1785 – 1872)
    • Elmina: Fort Elmina, Fort Conraadsburg or St. Jago, Fort de Veer (1810/1811), Fort Naglas (1828),Fort Java (1828), Fort Scomarus (1828), Fort Batenstein (1828). (28/9 Aug. 1637 - 6 Apr. 1872)
    • Cape Coast Castle, Cabo Corço or Oguaa (Swedish name: Carolusborg or Carlsborg) (16 Apr. 1659- May 1659/ 22 Apr. 1663 - 3 May 1664 **Cong (Cong Height): - 1659 abandoned / 1661 Danish Fort destroyed by the Dutch)
    • Mouri: Fort Nassau (16240 (1598 or 1611 / 12 – 1664/1665 – 1782/1785 - 1867 by treaty to the English)
    • Cormantin: Fort Amsterdam (1665 – 1721 / 1785 - 1867 by treaty to the English)
    • Anomabu: (1640-1652)
    • Egya: (1647 - ? / 1663 - 1664)
    • Apam: Fort Leydsaemheyt or Lijdzaamheid (Patience) (1697/1698 – 1782/ 1785-1868)
    • Senya Beraku: Fort Goede Hoop, (1667 or 1705/06 fort – 1782/1785 - 1867/68)
    • Ussher Town (Accra): Fort Crêvecoeur (1649-1782/ 1786-1868)
    • Kpone: (1697 - Apr. 1700 / 1706 - ?)
    • Keta: Fort Singelenburgh (? - 1737)
    • Kumase: (1837-1842 / 1848-1853 / 1859-1869)
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Togo

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Benin

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Nigeria

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Congo

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Togo

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Senegal

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Sierra Leone

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Liberia

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Equatorial Guinea

    • Annobon: 1641-164?/ 1665-16.. (to Portugal)
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Mozambique

Jan. 1721 - 23 Dec. 1730

    • Delagoa Bay: Fort Lydsaamheid (Jan. 1721 - 23 Dec. 1730)
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Madagascar

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Angola

26 Aug. 1641- 21/24 Aug. 1648,

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Saint Helena

Saint Helena

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Sao Tome

18 Oct. 1599 - 20 Oct. 1599/3 oct 1641-16 Oct 1641, nowadays Sao Tomé & Principe

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Reunion

Réunion

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Europe

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Belgium

After the Congress of Vienna, the southern Netherlands were granted to the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. The southern Netherlands had less power than the northern Netherlands in the new kingdom, and it declared independence in 1830 (Belgian Revolution). The independence was recognized by the Netherlands in 1839.

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Luxembourg

After the Congress of Vienna king William I of the Netherlands was made Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and the two countries united into a personal union. The independence of Luxembourg was ratified in 1869. When William III of the Netherlands died in 1890, leaving no male successor, the Grand Duchy was given to another branch of the House of Orange-Nassau.

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East Frisia

From 1807 tot 1810 East Frisia was a département of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Holland.

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Smeerenburg

Spitsbergen (ca 1620 - ca 1660), nowadays part of Svalbard, Norway


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See also

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External links



 
Colonialism
British Empire | Danish Empire | Dutch Empire | German Empire French Empire Portuguese Empire | Spanish Empire |
Former Dutch colonies
Aruba (current) | Berbice | Brazil (part) | Cape Colony | Ceylon | Demerara | Deshima | Dutch East Indies | Dutch Guiana | Essequibo | Dutch West Indies or Netherlands Antilles (current) | Netherlands New Guinea | New Netherland (New Amsterdam, New Sweden) | New Zealand (part) | Smeerenburg | Taiwan | Tobago | Travancore | Virgin Islands (part)
See also: Dutch colonisation of the Americas | Dutch East India Company | Dutch West India Company | New Holland
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Empire"
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