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The Dutch former Colonies |
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Bengal |
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Suratte-Bengal |
| In 1608 the Netherlands created their first
Indian colony. In 1625 Vereenigde Oostindische Companie of Holland, more
commonly known as the Jan Companie or VOC, established a settlement at
Chinsurah a few miles south of Bandel to trade in opium, salt, muslin
and spices. They built a fort called Fort Gustavius and a church and
several other buildings. A famous Frenchman, General Perron who served
as military advisor to the Mahrattas, settled in this Dutch colony and
built a large house here. The Dutch settlement of Chinsurah survived
until 1825 when the Dutch in their process of consolidating their
interests in modern day Indonesia, ceded Chinsurah to the English in
lieu of the island of Sumatra (part of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824).
Fort Gustavius has since been obliterated from the face of Chinsurah
and the church collapsed recently due to disuse, but much of the Dutch
heritage remains. These include old barracks, the Governor's residence,
General Perron's house, now the Chinsurah College and the old Factory
Building, now the office of the Divisional Commissioner. |
Hougli / Chinsura from 1635 to 1795
hoofdcomptoir. Main products: cotton, opium, ginger, hemp, silk, sugar.
Present fort: Gustavus.
Patna, comptoir. Main products: nitrate, cotton fabrics, opium.
Cassimabasar (Cassim Bazar, Calcapore), comptoir with a chief merchant.
Purchasing and processing of raw silk and silver coins were beaten.
Dacca (or Decca, now Dhaka) was a small establishment where the textile
core, here was the seat of the Nawab (Governor) of Bengal and it was the
headquarters for political reasons of importance.
Murshidabad (1710-1759) had a lodge where VOC-silver coin was beaten to
Bengal.
Pipely, 1627-1635 hoofdcomptoir. Main products: nitrate and slaves.
Bellesoor (Balasore, now Baleshwar), from 1676 a comptoir. Fort William. |
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Chinsura-1785 |
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The-factory-Hoegly-in-Bengal-1665 |
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