Dutch Gold Coast

Dutch Gold Coast

historical country, colony

Year dem found am	1598
Official language	Dutch
Continent	Africa
Capital	Fort Nassau
Territory claimed by	Dutch Empire
Significant event	Anglo-Dutch Treaties of 1870–1871
Date dem dissolve, abolish anaa demolish	1872

De Dutch Gold Coast anaa Dutch Guinea, officially Dutch possessions on the Coast of Guinea (Dutch: Nederlandse Bezittingen ter Kuste van Guinea) na e be a portion of contemporary Ghana wey na e be gradually colonized by de Dutch, wey dey begin insyd 1612. Na de Dutch begin dey trade insyd de area around 1598, wey dem join de Portuguese wich na e get a trading post der since de late 1400s. Eventually, na de Dutch Gold Coast cam be de most important Dutch colony insyd West Africa after dem capture Fort Elmina from de Portuguese insyd 1637, buh e fall into disarray after de abolition of de slave trade insyd de early 19th century. For 6 April 1872, na de Dutch Gold Coast be, in accordance plus de Anglo-Dutch Treaties of 1870–71, dem cede to de United Kingdom.

History

De Dutch settle for de Gold Coast

Painting by Johannes Vingboons of both Fort São Jorge for Elmina den Fort Nassau for Moree

Na de Portuguese be de first Europeans make dem arrive insyd contemporary Ghana. By 1471, na dem reach de area wey na e go be cam known as de Gold Coast secof na e be an important source of gold. Na de Portuguese trading interests insyd gold, ivory den pepper so dem increase dat insyd 1482 de Portuguese build dema first permanent trading post for de western coast of present-day Ghana. Dis fortress, a trade castle dem call São Jorge da Mina, na dem construct am make e protect Portuguese trade from European competitors.

De Portuguese position for de Gold Coast, dem know as Portuguese Gold Coast, remain secure for over a century. During dat time, na Lisbon seek make e monopolize all trade insyd de region insyd royal hands, though officials dem appoint for São Jorge, wey dem use force make dem prevent English, French den Dutch efforts make dem trade for de coast. After Barent Eriksz successfully sail to de Gold Coast insyd 1591, na Dutch merchants begin dey trade insyd de area. Na Pieter de Marees ein publications greatly increase de interest of merchants insyd de region.

Elmina Castle insyd de Blaeu-Van der Hem Atlas

Na de Twelve Years' Truce between Portugal-Spain den de Dutch Republic, wich last from 1609 to 1621, disrupt Dutch trade on de Gold Coast, as de Portuguese now get sufficient resources make dem protect dema trade monopoly. Na Dutch traders then petition de States-General of de Dutch Republic make dem build a fort for de coast. Na de States-General be receptive of dema demands, wey he send Jacob Clantius, wey he cam turn de first General for de Coast, to de Gold Coast insyd 1611. Insyd 1612, after dem gain permission of de local rulers thru de Treaty of Asebu, na he build Fort Nassau near Moree, for de site of an original Dutch trading post wey na e be burned down by de Portuguese.

After de Twelve Years's Truce end insyd 1621, na dem establish de Dutch West India Company, wich triy make e seize de Portuguese colonies insyd Africa den America as part of de Groot Desseyn plan. After failing insyd 1625, de company manage make e capture Elmina Castle from de Portuguese insyd 1637. Na Fort San Sebastian for Shama den Fort Santo Antonio for Axim follow insyd 1640 den 1642 respectively.

Competition plus oda European powers

Map of de Gold Coast wey be ordered by Admiral Michiel de Ruyter insyd 1666, during de Second Anglo-Dutch War

Na dem give de Dutch West India Company de monopoly on trade insyd de West Indies, wey dey include de Gold Coast, insyd 1621. Na mismanagement mean say chaw disillusioned employees of de Dutch West India Company lef de company make dem work give anoda European power. Hendrik Carloff, for example, na he be a former high-ranking officer insyd de company, wey join de Swedish Africa Company, dem found insyd 1649 by de Walloon-Dutch industrialist Louis De Geer. For de end, Carloff sanso lef de Swedish company, dis time for de Danish Africa Company, wich na he found einself plus Isaac Coymans den Nicolaes Pancras, sanso be former Dutch West India Company employees.

Relationship plus local peoples

De first page of de Treaty of Butre, dem sign on 17 August 1656

Na de European powers sam times be drawn into conflicts plus local inhabitants as na Europeans develop commercial alliances plus local political authorities. Na dese alliances, often be complicated, involve both Europeans wey dey attempt make dem enlist anaa persuade dema closest allies make dem attack rival European ports den dema African allies, anaa conversely, various African powers wey dey seek make dem recruit Europeans as mercenaries insyd dema inter-state wars, anaa as diplomats make dem resolve conflicts. Anoda way na dem avoid conflicts plus de local inhabitants be thru marriage. Na European men often create alliances plus de local African people thru a practice dem know as cassare anaa calisare dem derive from de Portuguese casar wey dey mean "to marry." Dutch men den oda Europeans go marry African women wey families get ties to de Atlantic slave trade. Insyd dis way, na Europeans benefit from those marriages by dem dey corrupt African individuals so say dem go maintain de alliances responsible for massive, racial-based enslavement, wich na e fabricate European wealth as much as e fabricate African systemic impoverishment. Insys essence, na African individuals profit at de expense of enslavement den impoverishment of African peoples, while na European individuals profit as means of consolidating wealth give European peoples. Na African wives fi receive money den schooling give de kiddies dem bear by European men. Wives sanso fi inherit slaves den property from dema husbies wen dem return to Europe anaa dem die.

Administration

Dutch West India Company

During de reign of de Dutch West India Company, na de government of de colony be headed by a Director-General. Na de Director-General be assisted by a Council wey be composed of senior colonial officers. Aside from e be de supreme ruler of de colony, na de Director-General sanso be de supreme commander of de land den sea forces, den highest judicial officer. Na de Director-General get a double mandate, ebe installed by both de States-General of de Dutch Republic den de Dutch West India Company. Na de colonial government be based for Fort Nassau insyd Moree between 1621 den 1637, den for Fort George insyd Elmina from 1637 dey go.

Composition of de Council

According to de 1722 government instruction, na de Council comprise de Director-General, wey function as de council ein presido, de fiscal (Dutch: fiscaal), de senior merchant (Dutch: opperkoopman), den de senior commissioners (Dutch: oppercommies). Na dese senior commissioners consist of de head of Fort Saint Anthony for Axim, de head of Fort Nassau for Moree, de head of Fort Crèvecoeur for Accra, den de head of de factory for Ouidah, on de Dutch Slave Coast.

Direct Dutch rule

After de liquidation of de Dutch West India Company insyd 1791, na de Council of Colonies give de West Indies take over de government of de Dutch Gold Coast. Na little changed insyd de first years, wey na dem lef de old administration of de Dutch West India Company largely intact.

Na dis change wen de Batavian Republic replace de Dutch Republic insyd 1795. Na de administration of de Dutch Gold Coast be reformed by a secret resolution of 12 May 1801. Na dem rename de office of Director-General Governor-General, wey na dem split de council insyd a Great Council den a Small Council. Na de Small Council be responsible for de everyday government of de colony, wey e comprise de Governor-General, de administrator-den-Director-General (Dutch: administrateur en directeur-generaal), de master of stores, de master of works, den de bookkeeper of de general office (Dutch: boekhouder ten comptoir-generaal). Na de Great Council consist of de Small Council, plus de addition of de residents of Fort Crèvecoeur for Accra, Fort Saint Anthony for Axim, Fort Saint Sebastian for Shama, den Fort Amsterdam for Kormatin, wey dem meet every three months.

Na dem san reform de administration of de Dutch Gold Coast wen na de Kingdom of Holland replace de Batavian Republic insyd 1806. By royal decree of Louis Napoleon, King of Holland, na dem demote de office of Governor-General to Commandant-General insyd 1807, wey na dem overhaul de administration insyd 1809. Na an even bigger change cam plus de establishment of de Kingdom of the Netherlands insyd 1815. E lef behind de uncertain years of French occupation, den plus na dem abolish slave trade, de newly established kingdom put up a plan make dem transform de colony into a profitable plantation colony. For dis purpose, na dem give de new governor Herman Willem Daendels an open mandate den a large budget. Na de project be cut short plus Daendels early death insyd 1818, however.

Society

Map of Elmina around 1665 by Johannes Vingboons

Map of Elmina around 1799 by J.C. Bergeman

Until de destruction of Elmina insyd 1873, na de town be de largest settlement on de Gold Coast, wey dey eclipse Accra den Kumasi. Insyd de 18th century, na ein population number 12,000 to 16,000 inhabitants, den insyd de 19th century, na dis figure rise to between 18,000 den 20,000. Na chaw of dese inhabitants no be European, however; na dema number peak for 377 Dutch West India Company employees for de entire Dutch Gold Coast insyd de 18th century, before na e sink back to a mere 20 officers insyd de 19th century.

Na much more important be de African inhabitants of Elmina, wey na dem cam from every region of de Gold Coast to Elmina make dem try dema luck. Na slaves form a considerable portion of de population of Elmina as well, wey na dem often be insyd de possession of de Akan people inhabitants demaselves. Na de third group insyd Elmina be of mixed race, den de result of interracial relations between Dutch West India Company employees den African women insyd Elmina. Na de illegitimate kiddies of de employees be called "Tapoeijers" by de Dutch, for, according to dem, na de colour of dema skin resemble those of native Americans. Na a decree from 1700 by de Governor-General for Elmina stipulate dat employees of de Dutch West India Company wey dem for return to de Netherlands either for take dema (illegitimate) kiddies plus dem, anaa dem for bia a sum of money make dem provide give dema "Christian upbringing". For de latter purpose, na dem establish a school insyd Elmina.

Wilhelm Amo den Jacobus Capitein

Portrait of Jacobus Capitein

Na de presence of European powers for de Gold Coast open up de area to de outsyd world, wey sam Africans from de Gold Coast achieve a modicum of accomplishment insyd European society. Two Africans from de Gold Coast be especially notable insyd dis regard, although one of dem be notorious for he dey defend slavery as compatible plus Christianity.

Na dem born Anton Wilhelm Amo near Axim insyd 1703 wey dem sen am go Amsterdam by de Dutch West India Company around 1707. Na dem give am as a present to Anthony Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Na Amo be baptised, wey he go school for de Wolfenbüttel Ritter-Akademie (1717–1721) de University of Helmstedt (1721–1727), den de University of Halle (1727–1729), wey he subsequently gain a doctorate insyd philosophy for de University of Wittenberg insyd 1734 plus de thesis On the Absence of Sensation in the Human Mind and its Presence in our Organic and Living Body, insyd wich na he argue against Cartesian dualism den in favour of a broadly materialist account of de person. Insyd 1740, na Amo take up a post insyd philosophy for de University of Jena, buh insyd 1747 na he return to de Gold Coast wer na he die insyd 1759. Na Amo be de first black person make he attend a European university. He dey lie interred insyd de graveyard of Fort San Sebastian.

Around 1717, na dem born Jacobus Capitein insyd de Gold Coast. Na dem forcibly take am to de Netherlands insyd 1725, wer na dem give am to Jacobus van Goch. Na Capitein excel for school wey dem announce during ein baptism insyd 1735 say na he want make he return to de Gold Coast as a missionary. To dat effect, na he study for Leiden University between 1737 den 1742, wey he graduate on a dissertation wey dey defend slavery. Na he be subsequently installed by de Dutch East India Company as a Christian minister for Elmina, wer na he marry Antonia Ginderdros. Na Ashanti king Opoku Ware I demand say make Capitein teach ein kiddies, wich na he do. Na Capitein die insyd Elmina insyd 1747.

Settlements

Main forts

Place insyd Ghana	Fort name	Dem found/ Dem occupy	Dem cede
Moree	Fort Nassau	1598 (1612)	1868
Butri	Fort Batenstein	1598 (1656)	1872
Elmina	Fort Elmina	1637	1872
Elmina	Fort Coenraadsburg	1637 (1665)	1872
Shama	Fort San Sebastian	1640	1872
Axim	Fort Santo Antonio	1642	1872
Accra	Fort Crèvecoeur	1642	1868
Sekondi	Fort Orange	1642 (1690)	1872
Takoradi	Fort Witsen	1665	1872
Cormantin	Fort Amsterdam	1665	1868
Senya Beraku	Fort Goede Hoop	1667	1868
Akwidaa	Fort Dorothea	1687	1872
Komenda	Fort Vredenburgh	1682	1872
Apam	Fort Lijdzaamheid	1697	1868
Princess Town	Fort Hollandia	1724	1872

Trade of forts plus Britain

Insyd 1868, na de United Kingdom den de Netherlands trade sam forts so say dem go create more geographically contiguous areas of influence. Na de Netherlands cede Fort Nassau, Fort Crêvecoeur, Fort Amsterdam, Fort Goede Hoop, den Fort Lijdzaamheid, den in return dem receive Apollonia (dem rename am Fort Willem III), Fort Dixcove (dem rename am Fort Metalen Kruis), Fort Komenda (no be confused plus de already Dutch Fort Vredenburgh, e sanso dey insyd Komenda), den Fort Sekondi (no be confused plus de already Dutch Fort Orange, e sanso dey insyd Sekondi). Na dis arrangement prove short-lived, as na dem completely cede de colony de United Kingdom insyd 1872.

Place insyd Ghana	Fort name	Dem found/ Dem occupy	Dem cede	Comment
Beyin	Fort Willem III	1868	1872	Previously British Fort Apollonia.
Dixcove	Fort Metalen Kruis	1868	1872	Previously British Fort Dixcove.
Komenda	Fort Komenda	1868	1872	Previously British Fort Komenda.
Sekondi	Fort Sekondi	1868	1872	Previously British Fort Sekondi.

Forts dem temporarily hold

Apart from de main forts dem hold for more dan a century, na oda forts insyd de region be temporarily occupied by de Dutch:

Place insyd Ghana	Fort name	Dem found/ Dem occupy	Dem cede
Cape Coast	Cape Coast Castle	1637	1652
Anomabu	Fort William	1640	1652
Egya	Fort Egya	1647	1664
Ankobra	Fort Ruychaver	1654	1659
Ankobra	Fort Elize Carthago	1702	1706 (?)
Keta	Fort Singelenburgh	1734	1737
Sekondi	Fort Sekondi	1782	1785

Read further

• DeCorse, Christopher R. (2001). An archeology of Elmina: Africans and Europeans on the Gold Coast, 1400–1900. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 9781560989714.
• Doortmont, Michel R.; Smit, Jinna (2007). Sources for the mutual history of Ghana and the Netherlands. An annotated guide to the Dutch archives relating to Ghana and West Africa in the Nationaal Archief, 1593-1960s. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-15850-4.
• Feinberg, H.M. (1976). "There Was an Elmina Note, But...". The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 9 (4): 618–630. doi:10.2307/217016. JSTOR 217016.
• Feinberg, H.M. (1989). Africans and Europeans in West Africa: Elminans and Dutchmen on the Gold Coast During the Eighteenth Century. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society. ISBN 9780871697974.

• Postma, Johannes M. (1990). The Dutch in the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1600-1815. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-36585-6.
• Van Dantzig, Albert (1999). Forts and Castles of Ghana. Accra: Sedco Publishing. ISBN 9964-72-010-6.
• Yarak, Larry W. (1986). "The "Elmina Note:" Myth and Reality in Asante-Dutch Relations". History in Africa. 13 (1): 363–382. doi:10.2307/3171552. JSTOR 3171552. S2CID 161210537.
• Yarak, Larry W. (2003). "A West African Cosmopolis: Elmina (Ghana) in the Nineteenth Century". Seascapes, Littoral Cultures, and Trans-Oceanic Exchanges. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2012.

Insyd Dutch

• Adhin, J. H. (1961). "De immigratie van Hindostanen en de afstand van de Goudkust". Nieuwe West-Indische Gids. 41 (1): 4–13. doi:10.1163/22134360-90002334.
• Delepeleire, Y. (2004). Nederlands Elmina: een socio-economische analyse van de Tweede Westindische Compagnie in West-Afrika in 1715. Gent: Universiteit Gent.
• Gramberg, J.S.G. (1868). "De Goudkust". De Gids. 32: 383–407.

• Nagtglas, Cornelis Johannes Marius (1863). Een woord aangaande de vraag: "Wat moet Nederland doen met zijne bezittingen ter kuste van Guinea?". The Hague: H.C. Susan, C.Hz.
• Van der Meer, Dirk (1990). De goudkust na de slavenhandel: Plannen om de Nederlandse Bezittingen ter kuste van Guinea rendabel te maken. Utrecht: Universiteit Utrecht.
• Van Kessel, Ineke (2001). "Driehonderd jaar Nederlands-Ghanese handelsbetrekkingen". Historisch Nieuwsblad. 2001 (4).

External links

• WorldStatesmen - Ghana - Dutch Gold Coast
• Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana