Dutch First Landing
Visiting Mauritius I found this remarkable spot. Not the most beautiful but an interesting place to look at. In 1598 the Dutch set foot here for the first time and they named the Island Mauritius after Prince Maurice of Nassau. Later in 1638 the Dutch VOC company built a fort nearby, which is also worth a visit.
What Exactly is the Dutch First Landing Monument?
What Exactly is the Dutch First Landing Monument?
A violent storm on August 28, 1598, made them disband their fleets and this is how they ended up at the shore of Mauritius. Five out of the eight ships – the Zeeland, the Geldria, the Vriesland, and the Amsterdam managed to reach the south-eastern shore of the country.
On board the Amsterdam ship was Vice-Admiral van Warwyck, who ordered two of his officers – Hendrick Dircsz Jolinck and Hans Hendricksz Bower, to look around the island for a proper shelter as they had decided to anchor their ships. It is interesting to know that the discovery lead to what is known as present-day Grand Port (earlier called Warwick Haven by the Dutch)
The landing of Jolinck, Bower and their crew members then marked the arrival of the first Dutch in Mauritian islands. More ships were moored in the bay on September 20, and most of their crew landed.
The Monument
To know what the structure is all about and what makes it significant, we need to talk about some history. It was 9th September 1598 when Vice-Admiral Wybrandt van Warwyck and Admiral Cornelius Van Neck commanded eight Dutch ships to a major seaport in Indonesia, called Bantam. It is said that the ship contained exotic trading products from Europe. But a sheer mishap leads the Dutch to Mauritius. Mauritius was never on their radar, but fate had a different story to tell.
Frederick Hendrick Museum
I advise you to also visit the Frederick Hendrick Museum, you are now in the area. Here you will find the remains of an old fortress, an exposition of old objects and a tropical garden. Admission is free.
