The Dutch in Sri Lanka

The Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC) controlled coastal Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) for nearly 140 years, leaving a lasting impact on the island’s economy, architecture, and culture.

The Dutch initially allied with the Kandyan Kingdom of King Rajasinghe II of Kandy to oust the Portuguese. The Battles of Galle in 1640 and Colombo in 1656 led to Portuguese defeat.

The Dutch then refused to hand over captured forts to the Kandyans, leading to tensions. The Dutch never fully conquered the Sinhalese highland kingdom.

The Dutch enjoyed a trade monopoly. The main export was cinnamon grown in Ceylon and monopolized by the VOC. Pepper, pearls, elephants, and areca nuts were also traded. Locals were compelled to work on plantations.

Burghers were Dutch-Sri Lankan descendants and formed a growing Eurasian community. The Dutch imported slaves from Indonesia,

The Dutch East India Company went bankrupt in 1795. During the Napoleonic Wars, the British seized Dutch Ceylon (1796). The Anglo-Dutch Treaty in 1814 officially ceded Ceylon to Britain.

The Dutch Legacy in modern Sri Lanka can be seen in architecture such as Galle Fort, Dutch churches, and colonial houses.

Roman-Dutch law is the basis for Sri Lankan civil law. Culinary Influences can be seen in dishes like ‘lamprais’, a Dutch-influenced rice dish.And Sri Lankans still have Dutch-derived names such as De Silva, and Fernando.

Key Dutch sites to Visit today include Galle Fort, the best -preserved Dutch fort in Asia, the Dutch Period Museum in Colombo, St. Peter’s Church in Negombo and the Holland Bastion, in Trincomalee.

Destination: Sri Lanka, Netherlands