The Coming of the Northern Europeans to the Malay-Indonesian Area

Abstract

To the envious northern Europeans who, in their turn, wanted to make sure of a share in the spice supplies, it was no secret that at the end of the 16th century the power of Portugal in its Asian settlements was on the decline. An invaluable guide was provided for the Dutch by Jan Huygen van Linschoten’s Itinerario. He pointed out the weak spots in the Portuguese system to his fellow-countrymen and showed them where they had the best chance of succeeding against the Spanish and Portuguese. This was in the Indonesian Archipelago, which was also the production area of the spices, the commodities most in demand. In 1597 the first expeditionary fleet sent by the Dutch to the East Indies cruised about in the Malay-Indonesian area for eight months without coming across any Portuguese ships.’ But at that time the Dutch were still not out to conquer, and if they had happened to encounter the enemy would only have taken defensive action. The Portuguese strongholds in Malacca, the Moluccas and Solor were avoided, and efforts were made to obtain the coveted cargoes in the ports of Java. The sole reason for the various fleets which were fitted out by the trading companies within a short space of time was the conduct of profitable trade. But then frantic competition broke out and obstructed all initiative against the common enemy. At the same time