Netherlands–Thailand relations

Map of Thailand and Cambodia by Isaak de Graaf

In 1601, Jacob Corneliszoon van Neck became the first Dutch person to land in modern-day Thailand when he landed in Pattani, which was an independent sultanate. In December 1602, Pattani was visited again by two more ships owned by the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The Dutch would later establish a comptior (trading post) in Songkhla and Pattani in 1607.[4] In 1608, King Ekathotsarot of Ayutthaya gave permission for the VOC to establish a trading post in the capital city of Ayutthaya. Siamese ambassadors were later sent to the Dutch Republic and were given an audience by the Prince of Orange, Maurice.[5] However, the posts in Songkhla and Pattani were abandoned around 1623 by the governor-general of the Dutch East Indies, Jan Pieterszoon Coen. In 1617, both countries signed a treaty. However the Dutch post at Ayutthaya proved to be unprofitable and was closed in 1622, but due to fears of loosing their position in Siam, it was reopened again in 1624 before being closing again in 1629.[6]

During the early reign of King Prasat Thong, the Dutch supported Prasat against his rivals, including Japanese mercenaries led by Yamada Nagamasa, and against the Cambodians.[5] After Japan lifted its ban on foreign trade, the Dutch began making more investments into Siam and its exports of dear hides, sappanwood, and ray skins. Later in April 1633, Joost Schouten was instructed to construct a new trading post in Ayutthaya which costed about US$750,000 today and was completed in 1634 at Baan Holllanda.[7] Due to it being made of stone, the building gained high-status in Ayutthaya as stone was only used in Ayutthaya to build temples and palaces. It was constructed on the opposite side of the Chao Phraya river to the Portuguese and Japanese.[4] In 1634, the Sultanate of Pattani rebelled against Siamese rule. In return for the exclusive right to export animal skin from Siam, the Dutch promised to assist Prasat Thong with six Dutch vessels. The Siamese, however, didn't wait for the Dutch to arrive and were repelled from Pattani to Songkhla. The Dutch later arrived in Pattani after the Siamese retreat.[5]

Ayutthaya as shown in the Dutch Vingboons Atlas

In 1636, the Dutch established a second post at the mouth of the Chao Phraya river, on the west bank at Samut Prakan called 'Amsterdam' which operated as a wharehouse. On 10 December 1636, two Dutch VOC workers were attacked by Palace Guards at Ayutthaya. On the 11th, the two were convicted of attacking the palace of Prasat Thong's brother and were sentenced to death by elephant trampling. However, the VOC chief at Ayutthaya, Jeremias van Vliet, managed to secure their release but was forced to take responsibility for all Dutch people in Siam in the future. In 1640, the VOC established another trading post at Nakhon Sri Thammarat until its closure in 1663. It was reopened again in 1707 before being permanently abandoned in 1756.[5]

In 1649, the VOC forwarded a claim to the Siamese government which Prasat Thong refused to accept, which was met by Jeremais van Vielt with anger. As a result, Prasat Thong ordered the execution of every Dutch person in Siam and the Dutch at the post in Ayutthaya were arrested. In the end, Prasat Thong reversed his decision.[5] Relations continued to deteriorate when in 1662, King Narai imposed a royal monopoly over all trade in Siam, causing the Dutch to loose their monopoly over animal hides. In 1663, it was discovered that the Portuguese were violating the 1617 treaty and Narai ordered the closure of Ayutthaya.[8] By September 1663, the VOC sent three ships to blockade the Chao Phraya river and demanded the release of their men and merchandise.[9] In an attempt to improve Siam's relation with the Dutch, Narai sent an envoy to the Netherlands. Then on 21 June 1664, Pieter De Bitter sent an envoy to Siam who mananged to renewal the Dutch-Siamese treaty on 22 August 1664. As a result, the Dutch regained their monopoly over animal hides. The treaty also stated that Dutch people in Siam would be punished according to the laws of the Netherlands. However, King Narai hoped to curb Dutch influence over Siam by forming new relations with other Europeans, such as the French. The VOC post in Ayutthaya was restored in 1625. Yet in 1688, the French left Siam and the Dutch - who remained the only European power in Siam - signed a new treaty which secured their monopoly over animal hides and tin.[5]

Due to Japan's growing isolation, the importance of animal skin in Ayutthaya disappeared and also due to tin being cheaper in Palembang, the Dutch post in Nakhron Sri Thammarat was closed in 1740, and by the 1750s, Dutch trade with Siam dwindled. Furthermore, King Borommakot refused to renewal treaties with the VOC and ignored the VOC's ultimnation. But from 1752 to 1756, the post at Nakhron Sri Thammarat reopened for the Japanese market but was closed again as the VOC focused on their East Indies holdings. In 1760, the Burmese attacked Ayutthaya and plundered the VOC post, resulting in the death of one Dutchman.[9] By November 1765, the last VOC ship left Ayutthaya. When the Burmese captured Bangkok in August 1766, the VOC in Siam led by Werndlij decided to evacuate the company and its men from Siam, and in December 1766 the Burmese captured the Dutch post.[5]

Dutch depiction of Ayutthaya by Johannes Vingboon during 1622-1623. Here, Ayutthaya is named Iudea

Australian and Dutch POWs in Thailand, 1943

Following the Japanese invasions of Thailand and the East Indies, the Japanese began constructing the Burma Railway which were constructed by Allied POWs, including Dutch POWs. A majority of the Dutch POWs had previously been Dutch civilians or had been employed in the Royal Netherlands East Indies army. The construction of the Burma railways would result in the death of 3,000 Dutch POWs. The bodies of dead Dutchmen were later reburied in war cemeteries, such as the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery where a at least 1,896 Dutch are buried along with Australians and British dead. On May 4 every year, the Dutch anthem is played at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery before wreaths are laid on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Defence and veterans.[10]