The intrigue of the Banda Archipelago lies not just below the surface. The sense of history found in Banda is exhilarating, it is in the heart of the islands and the adventurous few who bravely embark on a rare expedition to the region will be rewarded with a trip of a lifetime. It was not always the case that explorers arrived in these waters with peace on their minds. Countless relics lay scattered across the islands, serving as reminders of the days when Banda was once a valuable commodity, one whose fruits were worth fighting to rule.
Periods of Portuguese, Dutch and British control left their mark on Banda, the main example of such instantly recognised as Fort Belgica, commanding the hill over looking the town. Cannons lay scattered about the idyllic streets and a Dutch Palace, traditional jail and the island museum, filled with artefacts discovered over the centuries, wait for exploration. A walk amongst the local markets, brimming with spices and the day’s fresh catch, allows visitors to experience the local community existence, largely unchanged for centuries.
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Periods of Portuguese, Dutch and British control left their mark on Banda, the main example of such instantly recognised as Fort Belgica, commanding the hill over looking the town. Cannons lay scattered about the idyllic streets and a Dutch Palace, traditional jail and the island museum, filled with artefacts discovered over the centuries, wait for exploration. A walk amongst the local markets, brimming with spices and the day’s fresh catch, allows visitors to experience the local community existence, largely unchanged for centuries.
The nutmeg of Banda was in the 17e and 18e century a very good commercial product for Europe. In 1621 Jan Pieterszoon Coen, the governor-general of the V.O.C. in the Dutch East-Indies, gave order to kill all the Bandanese people on the Banda-Islands because they were not willing to allow the Dutch getting a trademonopoly for nutmegproduction on Banda. An enormous tragedy. 15.000 Bandanese people were killed by the Dutch . After the year 1621 pieces on the Islands called "perken" where hired to Dutch people by the V.O.C. ; they became managers of the nutmegplantations. Slaves were set in at the plantations. Those Dutch people where called : "perkeniers"
The son of Pieter van den Broecke was one of the earliest "perkeniers" on the island of Poeloe Ay, one of the Banda-islands. Later the family also started plantations on the island of Lonthor . Much of the things you see at Banda referres to the V.O.C. -period. At several moments on Banda you can see rituals in which the battle between de Dutch V.O.C. and the original Bandanees people is performed . Freedomfighters Mohammed Hatta and Soetan Sjahrir where exiled to Banda from 1636 until 1942 by the Dutch .
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The son of Pieter van den Broecke was one of the earliest "perkeniers" on the island of Poeloe Ay, one of the Banda-islands. Later the family also started plantations on the island of Lonthor . Much of the things you see at Banda referres to the V.O.C. -period. At several moments on Banda you can see rituals in which the battle between de Dutch V.O.C. and the original Bandanees people is performed . Freedomfighters Mohammed Hatta and Soetan Sjahrir where exiled to Banda from 1636 until 1942 by the Dutch .
The only Church remaining in the Banda Islands. Legend has it that the clock stopped at the exact time the Japanese invaded during World War II - photo courtesy of Stefan
The fabled Spice Islands lie in the modern day province of Maluku in eastern Indonesia. The Banda Islands are 200 km from the nearest port town of Ambon, and are made up of nine islands - Run and Ai to the west, Manukang to the northwest, Pisang to the east, Hatta and Sekaru to the southeast, Banda Besar to the south, and the main central island of Banda Neira and its close neighbour, the volcano island of Gunung Api - together with two rock islets - Batu Kapal to the east northeast and Keraka at the Banda Neira strait entrance.
They have attracted regional and international traders for more than 3,000 years. Prior to 1500, no European had ever landed on the shores of Maluku, but there had always been Asian traders. The biggest and most valuable commodities were nutmeg and cloves.
The fabled Spice Islands lie in the modern day province of Maluku in eastern Indonesia. The Banda Islands are 200 km from the nearest port town of Ambon, and are made up of nine islands - Run and Ai to the west, Manukang to the northwest, Pisang to the east, Hatta and Sekaru to the southeast, Banda Besar to the south, and the main central island of Banda Neira and its close neighbour, the volcano island of Gunung Api - together with two rock islets - Batu Kapal to the east northeast and Keraka at the Banda Neira strait entrance.
They have attracted regional and international traders for more than 3,000 years. Prior to 1500, no European had ever landed on the shores of Maluku, but there had always been Asian traders. The biggest and most valuable commodities were nutmeg and cloves.
The Colonial Powers Arrive
After the first Portuguese and European vessel, under the stewardship of Francisco Serrao, arrived in Maluku in April 1512, the balance of power that had remained quite stable and little changed over the centuries, changed abruptly. The building of a series of forts set a new precedent in Maluku. The forts were built to ensure security as an Asian trading centre and to protect goods and people so they would not be arbitrarily seized by a local ruler. This pioneer idea later evolved into the modern concept of foreign naval bases. But it also set an immediate cultural barrier between newcomers and local people; also a local legacy of foreign naval bases.
The Portuguese power in the islands faded with their empire. The Dutch had a confrontation with them in Ambon, and expelled them. That was the end of their presence in the Banda Islands at that time.
The huge impact that these tiny and remote islands had on the European continent at that time was immense. Maluku was the most valuable piece of real estate in the world five hundred years ago. Thus Henry the Navigator, Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan began their fates with destiny. They spread the word of god and enthusiastically secured as much spices as their boats would hold. Although the work was treacherous, a sack full of nutmeg from Banda would put a common sailor into an early retirement if he made it back to Europe alive with the legendary spices to hand.
In 1579 the Englishman Francis Drake arrived in Ternate, at nearby Halmahera, aboard the Golden Hind, taking several tons of cloves with him; and in 1603 James Lancaster arrives and raises English flag on the Banda Island of Run.
In 1602 the Dutch East India Company was formed with a base on Banda Neira Island, and in 1609 the Dutch arrive in force, thus bringing the ensuing conflict with the English into sharp focus.
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After the first Portuguese and European vessel, under the stewardship of Francisco Serrao, arrived in Maluku in April 1512, the balance of power that had remained quite stable and little changed over the centuries, changed abruptly. The building of a series of forts set a new precedent in Maluku. The forts were built to ensure security as an Asian trading centre and to protect goods and people so they would not be arbitrarily seized by a local ruler. This pioneer idea later evolved into the modern concept of foreign naval bases. But it also set an immediate cultural barrier between newcomers and local people; also a local legacy of foreign naval bases.
The Portuguese power in the islands faded with their empire. The Dutch had a confrontation with them in Ambon, and expelled them. That was the end of their presence in the Banda Islands at that time.
The huge impact that these tiny and remote islands had on the European continent at that time was immense. Maluku was the most valuable piece of real estate in the world five hundred years ago. Thus Henry the Navigator, Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan began their fates with destiny. They spread the word of god and enthusiastically secured as much spices as their boats would hold. Although the work was treacherous, a sack full of nutmeg from Banda would put a common sailor into an early retirement if he made it back to Europe alive with the legendary spices to hand.
In 1579 the Englishman Francis Drake arrived in Ternate, at nearby Halmahera, aboard the Golden Hind, taking several tons of cloves with him; and in 1603 James Lancaster arrives and raises English flag on the Banda Island of Run.
In 1602 the Dutch East India Company was formed with a base on Banda Neira Island, and in 1609 the Dutch arrive in force, thus bringing the ensuing conflict with the English into sharp focus.
