On a misty morning in 1661, the cannons of the Chinese warlord Koxinga opened fire on Fort Zeelandia. This marked the beginning of a siege that pitched a Western star fortress against a determined, disciplined, and numerically superior Chinese army. The siege lasted almost a year and was characterized by hunger and disease, complex terrain, and spectacular firefights. The stakes were high, as Formosa, modern-day Taiwan, was one of the most important Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia, and Koxinga desperately needed a safe base from the civil war raging on the Chinese mainland. This is how modern historiography tells the story of the staggering siege of Zeelandia.
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In the 17th century, the scramble for Southeast Asia was in full swing. Portugal, Spain, the British Empire, and the Dutch Republic competed for trading posts, export goods, and strategically important locations. The Dutch East India Company, which controlled and administered its crown’s overseas colonies, established a base on the island of Formosa in 1624. Formosa quickly developed into one of the company’s most important sources of income and was soon considered “one of the most beautiful pearls in the crown.” To protect this pearl, the Dutch built Fort Zeelandia on the island bearing the same name, which commanded the entrance to the Bay of Taiwan. A short time later, they built Fort Provintia, situated on the main island. Shortly after establishing the new base, the Dutch brought Chinese settlers to Formosa. They formed the link between the natives and the Dutch and provided a large proportion of the workforce. However, there were repeated disputes and eventually even an uprising by the Chinese against the Dutch. Although this revolt was successfully put down, mutual trust was destroyed.
One man was particularly suspicious: the governor of Formosa, Frederick Coyett. He suspected that the Chinese on the island had conspired with the Chinese warlord and pirate Zheng Chenggong, better known as Koxinga. To prevent another uprising, or even worse, an invasion, he prepared Dutch Formosa for all eventualities. These preparations, however, included reprisals against the Chinese population, which were not well received by his superiors at the Dutch East India Company. Thinking his fears speculative and his means excessive, they planned to replace him. However, Coyett was quite right to be concerned. A civil war was raging in China at the time, in which the rising Qing dynasty was pushing its predecessor, the Ming, farther and farther south until only a narrow strip of territory remained, where a few indomitable loyalists still held out. The most important of these loyalists was the very man Coyett feared: Koxinga. In 1661, as pressure mounted on his territories on the Chinese mainland, he was forced to look for a place to retreat. Coyett’s worst fears were realized when Koxinga chose the Insula Formosa as his safe haven.
On April 30, 1661, around 400 Chinese junks with 25,000 men sailed into the Bay of Taiwan. Koxinga had planned the invasion meticulously. He chose a day with an exceptionally high tide so that his ships could sail effortlessly through the shallow Deer’s Ear Gap into the Bay of Taiwan. The fog was also particularly thick that morning, so by the time the defenders noticed the fleet, it had already passed them. Koxinga’s troops disembarked at Smeerdorp, a small fishing village directly opposite the Deer’s Ear Gap. As Coyett had feared, hundreds of Chinese immediately joined them, bringing weapons and supplies. Before the Dutch knew it, a cavalry regiment dashed south and surrounded Fort Provintia. The rest of Koxinga’s troops slowly followed, banners waving and drums beating. Frederick Coyett immediately called the Council of Formosa together to plan the defense. The situation was precarious. Koxinga had slipped through their defenses.
To prevent this, the council ordered three measures. First, they sent three of their largest ships against a group of Koxinga’s junks to slow the Chinese landing. The larger, more heavily armed Dutch ships sank several opponents, but the junks fought back fiercely. The battle raged until an unfortunate spark ignited the powder magazine of the largest Dutch ship, the Hector of Troy, and it exploded. This forced the Dutch to abandon their mission and withdraw. A second ship, the Maria, had no choice but to flee to the open sea and attempt to reach Batavia, the Dutch East India Company’s main base in Southeast Asia, against the adverse winds of the monsoon season. The loss of the two ships was grave, as Coyett now only had two oceangoing vessels—not nearly enough to challenge Koxinga’s naval dominance.
Q: What marked the beginning of the siege of Zeelandia?
A: The siege of Zeelandia began when the cannons of the Chinese warlord Koxinga opened fire on Fort Zeelandia.
Q: What is War Thunder?
A: War Thunder is a comprehensive vehicle combat game available for free on PC and consoles, offering players the ability to command more than 2500 tanks, planes, helicopters, and ships from 10 nations.
Q: When did the Dutch colonization of Formosa take place?
A: The Dutch colonization of Formosa took place in the 17th century when the Dutch East India Company established a base on the island of Formosa in 1624.
Q: Who was Governor Frederick Coyett and what were his preparations?
A: Governor Frederick Coyett was the governor of Formosa who suspected a conspiracy between the Chinese on the island and the Chinese warlord Koxinga. He made preparations to defend Dutch Formosa against potential uprisings or invasions.
Q: How did the invasion of Formosa by Koxinga unfold?
A: On April 30, 1661, around 400 Chinese junks with 25,000 men sailed into the Bay of Taiwan, with Koxinga meticulously planning the invasion. The Chinese troops disembarked, surrounded Fort Provintia, and caught the Dutch defenders by surprise.
Q: What was the outcome of the defense of Fort Provintia?
A: During the defense of Fort Provintia, the Dutch faced challenges as their ships engaged Koxinga's junks, resulting in the loss of ships and a diminishing naval dominance against the invading forces.
