Important Moments in History - Taiwan Part ② / 1624: Dutch Arrival in Taiwan and Fort Zeelandia, Taiwan Enters the Global Trade

In 1624, pressured by Ming forces in Penghu, the Dutch East India Company relocated to the southwestern coast of Taiwan, establishing Fort Zeelandia on a sandbar in Tayouan (present-day Anping, Tainan). This was more than just a fortress; it was the core of the company's governance, warehousing, customs, and entrepôt trade. From this point, Taiwan was drawn into the 17th-century global competition, a meeting point for Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, Ming, Southeast Asian, and European merchant ships. The Dutch soon discovered that Taiwan was not an uninhabited land. The Tayouan area was home to indigenous peoples like the Siraya, each with their own territories, languages, and customs. The Dutch established relations through treaties, force, and trade, demanding tribute and deerskins from the indigenous people, and also recruiting Han Chinese immigrants for cultivation. The indigenous tribes were not passive: they sought allies among the various powers and their lives were altered by deerskins, land, and missionary policies. Trade was the lifeblood of Dutch rule. Taiwan's deerskins were of high quality, exported to Japan in exchange for silver. Sugar produced by Han Chinese farmers was exported to Japan, Persia, and Europe. The Dutch then imported silk and porcelain from China for transshipment, making Tayouan an East Asian hub. To increase production, the company brought in Han Chinese indentured laborers, creating a society where indigenous peoples, Han Chinese, Dutch, and missionaries intersected. The most profound cultural influence was the 'Sinkan Manuscripts.' To facilitate missionary work, Dutch missionaries used the Roman alphabet to transcribe the Siraya language, compiling catechisms, prayers, and school materials. The indigenous people also used these to sign land deeds and commercial documents. These documents, known as the Sinkan Manuscripts, are among the earliest written records of Taiwan's indigenous peoples and allow us to hear their voices from the 17th century. 1624