Second Dutch Expedition to the East Indies facts for kids
The Second Dutch Expedition to the East Indies was a big sea journey that happened from 1598 to 1600. It was one of many trips the Dutch made to the East Indies to trade for valuable spices. These trips eventually led to the creation of the powerful Dutch East India Company. This particular expedition was led by a man named Jacob Cornelius van Neck.
Why the Dutch Sailed East
For a long time, the Portuguese controlled most of the spice trade. Spices like pepper, cloves, and nutmeg were very valuable in Europe. After the first Dutch trip to Indonesia, the people who funded it thought it was a good time to try again. They wanted to get more spices directly.
Companies and Money
The company from the first trip, called the Far-distance Company, teamed up with a new group, the New Company for Voyages to East India. Together, they raised almost 800,000 guilders. This was the most money ever collected in the Netherlands for a private adventure!
Maps and Plans
In 1592, a mapmaker named Petrus Plancius created detailed maps showing the way to the East Indies. These maps helped start the first Dutch expedition. Plancius was very interested in the new journey. He studied the reports from the first trip to write clear sailing instructions for this new expedition.
The Fleet and Its Leaders
Admiral Jacob van Neck was chosen to lead the expedition. His main helpers were Vice-Admiral Wybrand van Warwyck and the famous arctic explorer Jacob van Heemskerck. Another important person on board was Willem Janszoon. On May 1, 1598, the eight ships set sail from Texel.
The fleet included two ships from the first trip: the Mauritius and the Hollandia. The other ships were the Amsterdam, Zeelandia, Geldria, Utrecht, Vriesland, and a smaller ship, the Overeyssel. The last five ships were named after different regions in the Netherlands.
The Journey Begins
The fleet started very well, reaching the Cape of Good Hope in just three months. But soon after, strong storms hit the ships. The fleet was split into two groups.
Storms and Separations
Van Neck, with three of his ships, quickly recovered from the storm. They landed on the east coast of Madagascar to get fresh supplies. The other ships, led by Warwyck, could not land on Madagascar because of the bad weather.
Arrival in Bantam
After seven months of sailing, Van Neck and his three ships finally reached the trading city of Bantam on November 25. The people of Bantam were happy to see the Dutch. They had recently fought with the Portuguese and destroyed three of their ships. They hoped to make friends with Van Neck to protect themselves from any angry Portuguese fleets. In just one month, Van Neck filled all three of his ships with valuable spices.
The Other Ships Reach Mauritius
Meanwhile, the other ships landed on an island they called Do Cerne. They renamed it Mauritius to honor Maurice of Nassau, a Dutch leader. They left a rooster and seven hens on the island. They also planted many seeds, including orange and lemon trees. After that, they sailed to Bantam. They arrived on December 30, which led to a joyful New Year celebration for Van Neck's men.
Van Neck's Return Home
Van Neck quickly filled one of the four ships that Warwyck had brought with spices. Then, he sailed for home with this ship and the three he had already filled. He arrived in Amsterdam in July 1599. The journey had taken only half as long as the first Dutch expedition.
The crew were celebrated in the streets with trumpeters and ringing bells. They were given as much wine as they could drink. Van Neck received a golden cup. He brought back nearly one million pounds of pepper and cloves, plus a lot of nutmeg, mace, and cinnamon.
The Rest of the Fleet's Adventures
Before Van Neck sailed for Amsterdam, he sent the remaining four ships further east. They were heading to the Spice Islands to get even more spices. On their way, they had no major problems except near Madura Island. There, the king of Arissabaya captured some sailors. He demanded money to release them because of an earlier Dutch attack.
To Ambon and Beyond
The ships reached Ambon Island in March 1599. But there were not enough cloves available there. So, it was decided that Warwyck would sail north to Ternate. Heemskerck would go to the Banda Islands.
Warwyck reached Ternate safely. To celebrate, they fired so much ammunition that the ground shook! They were welcomed well because the king of Ternate was fighting a war with a nearby island, Tidore. He was happy to have military help. Warwyck filled his ships with spices. He then headed home, picking up more pepper at Bantam. He arrived in Amsterdam in September 1600.
Heemskerck in the Banda Islands
Heemskerck arrived in Great Banda in mid-March 1599. However, the local people were not very welcoming at first. They had bad experiences with the Portuguese in the past. Also, nearby volcanoes had been active, which they saw as a bad sign. Heemskerck eventually managed to get the natives to cooperate. He left behind twenty-two men to collect nutmeg. This way, future Dutch ships could buy it easily. Heemskerck reached home in May 1600.
Great Success
The Second Dutch Expedition was a huge success! The people who invested in it made a 400% profit. This means they earned four times the money they put in.
See also
- First Dutch Expedition to Indonesia
- Dutch East India Company in Indonesia
- European exploration of Australia
- Janszoon voyage of 1605-6
- Voyage of the Pera and Arnhem to Australia in 1623
- New Holland (Australia)
- Australian places with Dutch names
- History of the Northern Territory
- History of Western Australia
- History of South Australia
- History of Tasmania
