Dutch Mauritius

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Dutch Mauritius: A short overview

Dutch Mauritius was a settlement of the Dutch East India Company on the island of Mauritius from 1638 to 1710. It was mainly a stopover for ships traveling to India and a way to keep rival powers from settling the island. The Dutch had already been visiting the island since 1598, and it was explored earlier by other peoples, including the Portuguese in the early 1500s. The island’s name and many places on it come from the Dutch, and today Mauritius is part of the country of Mauritius.

Early and brief history
- The first permanent Dutch settlement began in 1638 under Cornelius Gooyer with about 25 men. A year later more settlers arrived, but Gooyer was recalled for not developing the colony.
- Adriaen van der Stel (1639–1645) pushed ebony wood export and brought Malagasy slaves to work on the island. Many slaves escaped into the forests.
- The colony faced long periods of hardship—bad harvests, storms, and supply delays. By 1658 most inhabitants had left, marking a temporary abandonment.

A second, troubled attempt and eventual abandonment
- A second attempt started around 1664, with leaders including Dirk Jansz Smient (1666–1669) and later governors. Ebony export continued, and sugar cane was introduced from Java.
- The colony changed hands several times and faced ongoing problems, including disease and drought.
- The last Dutch governor was Abraham Momber van de Velde. In 1710 the Dutch completely abandoned the island.

Legacy
- The Dutch gave many place names to Mauritius and influenced the landscape, including places and features named after Dutch figures.
- They cleared forests, cut ebony trees, and hunted wildlife such as the dodo and giant tortoises.
- A monument was built in Ferney, near Grand Port, in 1948 to mark the first Dutch landing. The Fort Frederik Hendrik site has been restored, and in 2010 the Frederik Hendrik Museum opened.

After the Dutch left, the island later came under French control as Isle de France and is today part of Mauritius.