Peter Borschberg

Conference on Piracy in Asia

 

This paper explores the shift in maritime policy sanctioned by the Dutch States General and pursued by the VOC in Southeast Asian waters at the open of the 17^th century. Attention will be focused on the Malacca and Singapore Straits, as well as the waters around the island of Tioman and the Riau Archipelago in the period 1600-1620 approximately. The Dutch almost exclusively targeted vessels sailing under the Portuguese flag which they attacked and plundered under the laws of war. But they also seized cargoes from Asians who were sailing to or from Portuguese or Spanish-held ports, or whose rulers were allied to the Iberian powers.

From self-defence and an instrument of war: Dutch freebooting around the Malay Peninsula in the early 17^th century