After the
attempt to conquer Macao in 1622, the Dutch settled in the Pescadores islands (building a
fort in Makung) between Formosa and China. In 1624 a Chinese attack compelled them to move
on nearby Formosa.
They founded the castle of Zeelandia in 1624 on an island near the southwest coast of
Formosa.
Soon, the Dutch settlements had a vast commercial success.
In response to the Dutch, the Spaniards landed on the north side
of the island and built, in 1626, a fort at Keelung called "La Sanctissima
Trinidad" or "San Salvador" and another at Tamsui (Fort San Domingo). In
1629, they were garrisoned by 200 Spaniards and 400 Filipinos.
In the year of 1637 the Dutch took possession of the village Favorolang and enlarged the
VOC territory.
The Spaniards evacuated Tamsui in 1635, but Keelung
remained in Spanish hands until 1642. In that year, a Dutch expedition totaling 11 ships
and 1000 men attacked the Spanish fort and forced them to surrender. At this time there
were in the fort 115 Spaniards and the total population of the settlement was 446.
THE SPANIARDS IN FORMOSA
KEELUNG
May 1626 – 25 Aug. 164
TAMSUI
1628 – 1635
THE DUTCH IN FORMOSA
PESCADORES
1622 – 1624
Fort ZEELANDIA
Aug. 1624 – 1 Feb. 1662
KEELUNG
25 Aug. 1642 – 1661 1664 – 1668
TAMSUI
1642 – ?
Fort PROVINTIA
1653 – 4 May 1661
In 1648, there were 251 villages under the VOC rule totaling 63861 inhabitants.
In 1650, the Dutch possessed 351 villages with 68657 inhabitants. At first, the atempts to
propagate the Dutch reformed faith were encouraging.
In 1652, in the village of Saccam, the Chinese revolted against Dutch rule.
After this revolt, a fort called Provintia was built, in 1653, in the village of Saccam.
The Dutch governors in Formosa
Maarten SONCK
1624 – 1625
Gerard Frederiksz de WITH
1625 – 1627
Pieter NUYTS
1627 – 1629
Hans PUTMANS
1629 –1636
Johan van de BURGH
1636 – 1640
Paulus TRAUDENIUS
1640 – 1643
Maximiliaan LEMAIRE
1643 – 1644
François CARON
1644 – 1646
Pieter Anthonisz OVERWATER
1646 – 1649
Nicolaas VERBURCH
1649 – 1653
Cornelius CAESAR
1653 – 1656
Frederik COYETT
1656 – 1662
On 30 April 1661, a large Chinese fleet besieged Fort Zeelandia and Fort
Provintia.
Fort Provintia capitulated on 4 May 1661. About a month later, the Dutch evacuated also
Keelung and the 170 inhabitants sheltered at Deshima (Japan).
After a hard siege of nine months, on 1 February 1662 Fort Zeelandia surrendered to Cheng
Ch’engkun (Coxinga).
In 1663–1664, a Dutch fleet under the command of Balthasar Bort attempted to retake
Fort Zeelandia but failed. This expedition was, nevertheless, able to capture the city of
Amoy in Fukien.
In 1664, Bort succeeded in retaking Keelung but, after four years, this fort was again
abandoned in 1668.
