The Dutch Surrender
On 30 April 1661, General Zheng Chenggong ("Koxinga") of Ming China (1368-1644) laid siege to the fortress (defended by 2,000 Dutch soldiers) with 400 warships and 25,000 men. After nine months and the loss of 1,600 Dutch lives, the Dutch surrendered on 1 February 1662, when it became clear that no reinforcements were forthcoming from Batavia (present day Jakarta, Java, Indonesia) and when the defenders ran short of fresh water.
Under the Koxinga-Dutch Treaty (1662) signed on 1 February between Koxinga and Frederick Coyett, the Dutch governor, the Dutch surrendered the Fortress and left all goods and VOC property behind. In return, all officials, soldiers and civilians were free to leave with their personal belongings and supplies.
On 9 February, Frederick Coyett officially surrendered the fort and led the remaining Dutch forces and civilians back to Batavia by sea, ending 38 years of Dutch colonial rule on Taiwan.
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Original wall of red bricks imported from Batavia and laid by the soldiers of the Dutch East India Company.
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Painting showing the environment of inner Fort Zeelandia.
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A drawing of the view and structure of the Fort Zeelandia.
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A color painting of the view of the Fort Zeelandia.
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A Scale model of a Dutch East India Company warship.
Read more about this topic: Fort Zeelandia (Taiwan)
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“Too nice is neighbor’s fool.”
—Common Dutch saying, trans by Johanna C. Prins.
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—Albert Einstein (1879–1955)