Dutch Virgin Islands

Nederlandse Maagdeneilanden(Dutch Virgin Islands)
1625–1680
Flag Coat of arms
Status	Colony of theDutch Republic
Common languages	Dutch,Negerhollands
Religion	Dutch Reformed
History
•Dutch West India Companyfort established onSaint Croix	1625
• Dutch expelled from Saint Croix by British	1650
•Saint Thomaspost established	1657
•Danish West India Companytakes possession of Saint Thomas	1672
• Disestablished	1680
Currency	Gulden(WIC)
Succeeded by British Virgin Islands Danish West Indies

Map of the Virgin Islands

TheDutch Virgin Islandsis the collective name for the enclaves that theDutch West India Companyhad in theVirgin Islands.The area was ruled by a director, whose seat was not permanent. The main reason for starting a colony here was that it lay strategically between the Dutch colonies in the south (Netherlands Antilles,Suriname) andNew Netherland.TheDutch West India Companywas mainly affected by the competition from Denmark, England and Spain. In 1680 the remainingislandsbecame a British colony.

History

Tortola: It was a DutchprivateernamedJoost van Dykwho organised the first permanent settlements in the territory in Soper's Hole, on the west end of Tortola. It is not known precisely when he first came to the territory, but by 1615 van Dyk's settlement was recorded in Spanish contemporary records, noting its recent expansion. He traded with the Spaniards inPuerto Ricoand farmed cotton and tobacco.

Virgin Gorda: Some sources suggest that the first settlements in the Virgin Islands were by the Spanish, who mined copper at thecopper mine on Virgin Gorda,but there is no archaeological evidence to support the existence of any settlement by the Spanish in the islands at any time, or any mining of copper on Virgin Gorda prior to the 19th century.

Tortola: By 1625, van Dyk was recognised by theDutch West India Companyas the private "Patron" of Tortola, and had moved his operations toRoad Town.During the same year, van Dyk lent some limited (non-military) support to the Dutch Admiral Boudewijn Hendricksz, who sackedSan Juan, Puerto Rico.In September 1625, in retaliation, the Spanish led a full assault on the island of Tortola, laying waste to its defences and destroying its embryonic settlements. Joost van Dyk himself escaped to the island that would laterbear his name,and sheltered there from the Spanish. He later moved to the island ofSt. Thomasuntil the Spanish gave up and returned to Puerto Rico.

Notwithstanding the Spanish hostility, the Dutch West India Company still considered the Virgin Islands to have strategic value, as they were located approximately halfway between the Dutch colonies in South America (Suriname) and North America, (New Amsterdam,nowNew York City). Large stone warehouses were built at Freebottom, near Port Purcell (just east of Road Town), with the intention that these warehouses would facilitate exchanges of cargo between North and South America.

The remains of Fort Charlotte, built on an earlier lookout post erected by the Dutch

Tortola: At this time, the Dutch settlers erected some small earthworks and a three-cannon fort above the warehouse, on the hill whereFort George, Tortolawould eventually be built by the English. He also constructed a wooden stockade to act as a lookout post above Road Town on the site that would eventually becomeFort Charlotte, Tortola.They also stationed troops at the Spanish "dojon" near Pockwood Pond, later to be known asFort Purcell,but now ordinarily referred to as "the Dungeon".

Virgin Gorda: In 1631, the Dutch West India Company expressed an interest in the copper which had been found atCopper Mine, Virgin Gorda,and a settlement was set up on that island, which came to be known as "Little Dyk's" (now known as Little Dix).

Tottola: In 1640, Spain attacked Tortola in an assault led by Captain Lopez. Two further attacks were made by the Spanish on Tortola in 1646 and 1647 led by Captain Francisco Vincente Duran. The Spanish anchored a warship in Soper's Hole at West End and landed men ashore. They then sent another warship to blockade Road Harbour. After a team of scouts returned a safe report, the Spanish landed more men and attacked Fort Purcell overland by foot. The Dutch were massacred, and the Spanish soldiers then moved marched to Road Town, where they killed everyone and destroyed the settlement. They did not, apparently, attack the smaller settlements further up the coast in Baugher's Bay, or on Virgin Gorda.

Decline of the Dutch West India Company

The settlements were not ultimately an economic success, and the evidence suggests that the Dutch spent most of their time more profitably engaged in privateering than trading. The lack of prosperity of the territory mirrored the lack of commercial success of the Dutch West India Company as a whole.

The company changed its policy, and it sought to cede islands such as Tortola and Virgin Gorda to private persons for settlement, and to establishslavepens. The island of Tortola was eventually sold toWillem Hunthumat some point in the 1650s, at which time the Dutch West India Company's interest in the territory effectively ended.

In 1665, the Dutch settlers on Tortola were attacked by a British privateer, John Wentworth, who is recorded as having captured 67 slaves which were removed toBermuda.This is the first official record of slaves being held in the Territory.

Subsequently, in 1666, there were reports that a number of the Dutch settlers were driven out by an influx of British "brigands and pirates", although clearly a number of the Dutch remained.Britain took the islands from the Dutch as part of theSecond Anglo-Dutch War.

Islands

• Saint Croix(Dutch:Sint Kruis): First fortified by the WIC in 1625, which was the same year that Britain wanted to establish themselves there as well.FrenchProtestants joined the Dutch. During this period, the Dutch occupied the east side of the island, and the British the west. In 1650, the fortress was abandoned after a conflict with the English. The Dutch colonists were settled atSt. Eustatius.The British lost the island in that year toSpain.
• Saint Thomas:WIC established post in 1657.Danish West India Companyassumed control in 1672, but Dutch presence persisted throughBrandenburger Company leasefrom 1685 to 1754 when Danish repurchases Brandenburger lease.
• Tortola:In 1648, the WIC opened a successful post on the island. In 1665, a small group of Dutch settlers and African slaves were transported to the island to grow cane. England conquered the island in the year 1672.
• Anegada:Here was a post until 1680, more information is not known. After that, this island became an English possession.
• Virgin Gorda:A post was opened here in 1628. In 1680, it was acquired by the British.

Remnants of Dutch occupation

Until the mid-20th century, there was a DutchCreole languagespoken on the islands—Negerhollands—especially by people whose ancestors were slaves, and those who had worked on Dutch plantations. There are still some ruins to see, and the island ofJost Van Dykeis named after the Dutch pirate.

References

• Part of this article is translated from thecorresponding articleat Dutch Wikipedia.