The Dutch in Formosa: Sugar, Deer, and the Fall of Fort Zeelandia

In Episode 181 of The Story of the Netherlands, we explore a lesser-known but pivotal chapter of Dutch colonial history: Formosa (Taiwan). The VOC established a colony there in 1624, building Fort Zeelandia on the southwestern coast. We delve into the colony's economic backbone—sugar cultivation by Chinese settlers and the lucrative deer hide trade with Japan. The episode details the tense relations with indigenous tribes and the eventual dramatic siege by Ming loyalist Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) in 1661–1662, which ended Dutch rule after nine months. Governor Frederick Coyett's surrender led to his exile by the VOC. We discuss the legacy of Dutch Taiwan, including the introduction of the sweet potato and lingering place names. A tale of empire, exploitation, and human drama.

#DutchFormosa #VOC #FortZeelandia #Koxinga #ZhengChenggong #FrederickCoyett #TaiwanHistory #DeerHideTrade #DutchColonialism #SiegeOfFortZeelandia #17thCentury #Batavia #SugarTrade #AboriginalTaiwan #DutchEastIndiaCompany #History #FexingoHistory #TradeAndEmpire

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