EPISODE · Jun 4, 2026 · 5 MIN
The Dutch East India Company's Forgotten War in Taiwan
from The Story of the Netherlands: Trade, Empire, and Innovation — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In 1661, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) ruled the island of Taiwan from Fort Zeelandia, trading silk and deer hides with China and Japan. But a Ming loyalist named Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) had other plans. With a fleet of 400 ships and 25,000 men, he laid siege to the Dutch fortress. This episode tells the story of the Siege of Fort Zeelandia — the desperate defense by Governor Frederick Coyett, the brutal blockade, and the eventual surrender that ended Dutch rule in Taiwan. We explore the VOC's strategic miscalculations, the role of Chinese settlers and Formosan tribes, and the legacy of this forgotten war in Dutch colonial history. Names and terms: Koxinga, Zheng Chenggong, Fort Zeelandia, Frederick Coyett, Tayouan, Formosa, VOC, Ming loyalists, siege, surrender. #DutchEastIndiaCompany #VOC #Taiwan #Koxinga #ZhengChenggong #FortZeelandia #FrederickCoyett #Formosa #Siege #ColonialHistory #17thCentury #MingDynasty #DutchEmpire #MilitaryHistory #Tayouan #EastAsia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In 1661, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) ruled the island of Taiwan from Fort Zeelandia, trading silk and deer hides with China and Japan. But a Ming loyalist named Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) had other plans. With a fleet of 400 ships and 25,000 men, he laid siege to the Dutch fortress. This episode tells the story of the Siege of Fort Zeelandia — the desperate defense by Governor Frederick Coyett, the brutal blockade, and the eventual surrender that ended Dutch rule in Taiwan. We explore the VOC's strategic miscalculations, the role of Chinese settlers and Formosan tribes, and the legacy of this forgotten war in Dutch colonial history. Names and terms: Koxinga, Zheng Chenggong, Fort Zeelandia, Frederick Coyett, Tayouan, Formosa, VOC, Ming loyalists, siege, surrender. #DutchEastIndiaCompany #VOC #Taiwan #Koxinga #ZhengChenggong #FortZeelandia #FrederickCoyett #Formosa #Siege #ColonialHistory #17thCentury #MingDynasty #DutchEmpire #MilitaryHistory #Tayouan #EastAsia #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Dutch East India Company's Forgotten War in Taiwan
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