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Battle at Bantam
Battle near Bantam between Wolfert Harmensz against the Portuguese
Battle of Bantam between Portuguese and Bantam people, 1956, by the De Houtman expedition
Bird's eye view of Bantam
Bird's eye view of the Bantam roadstead
Bird's eye view of the Bay of Bantam
Bird's eye view of the city of Bantam
Bird's eye view of the roadstead at Bantam with De Houtman's fleet
Bridge at Fort Speelwijck at Banten
Bridge at Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Chart of Asia and eight city maps
Chart of Asia and maps of eight cities
Council of war in Bantam
De Houtman's fleet at anchor near Bantam
Dutch leave Bantam harbour
English-made map of the western part of the Java Sea with the Sunda Straits
Foundations of the inner courtyard at Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Foundations within the inner courtyard of Fort Speelwijck at Banten
Fragment of a wall at Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Gravestone at Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Gravestone at Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Gravestone at the cemetery at Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Gravestone at the graveyard near Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Graveyard of Fort Speelwijck at Banten
Graveyard of Fort Speelwijck at Banten
Graveyard of Fort Speelwijck at Banten
Inner courtyard at Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Islands in the bay of Bantam
Manuscript chart on parchment showing the island of Sumatra
Map of Africa and Asia
Map of Asia
Map of Asia
Map of Asia
Map of Asia
Map of Bantam
Map of Bantam
Map of East Indies
Map of Europe, Africa and Asia, with inserts showing inhabitants of various regions
Map of Indonesia
Map of Indonesia and the Philippines
Map of Java
Map of Java
Map of Java
Map of Java
Map of Java
Map of Java and a view of Batavia
Map of Java and a view of Batavia
Map of Java and Borneo
Map of Java and surrounding waters
Map of Java's north coast, from Bantam to Batavia
Map of Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Malaysia
Map of part of Java's northern coast and part of the eastern coast of Sumatra
Map of part of the coast near Bantam
Map of part of the island of Java
Map of part of the north coast of Java
Map of part of the northern coast of Java, between Tanjong Awoerang and Tanjong Carawang
Map of South East Asia with an inset showing the Botton Strait
Map of Sumatra
Map of Sumatra
Map of Sumatra
Map of Sumatra and the Malacca Strait
Map of Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Malaysia
Map of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Macassar, Madura, Bali
Map of the city of Bantam
Map of the city of Bantam
Map of the coast near Bantam
Map of the coast of northwest Java
Map of the eastern part of the Indian Ocean
Map of the fort at Bantam
Map of the Indian Ocean
Map of the Indian Ocean
Map of the Indian Ocean
Map of the Indian Ocean
Map of the Indian Ocean
Map of the Indies archipelago
Map of the Indonesian archipelago
Map of the Indonesian archipelago
Map of the island of Java and Madura
Map of the island of Java and Madura
Map of the Java Sea
Map of the Java Sea
Map of the north coast of Java
Map of the north coast of Java with neighbouring islands
Map of the north coast of Java, from Bantam to Batavia
Map of the north coast of Java, from Geertruys Island to Brenong
Map of the northeastern coast of Java
Map of the northern coast of Java
Map of the northern coast of Java
Map of the northwestern part of Java
Map of the Pacific Ocean, from Malacca to Japan
Map of the route taken by Van Neck and Warwijck, 1598-1599
Map of the Soenda Straits and an insert showing the roadstead of Batavia
Map of the Sunda Strait
Map of the Sunda Strait
Map of the Sunda Strait
Map of the Sunda Strait
Map of the Sunda Strait and the southern part of Sumatra
Map of the Sunda Straits
Map of the western part of Java
Map of the world
Map of the world and chart of New Guinea
Map showing forts in and around the city of Bantam
Map showing part of Sumatra and Java and the islands of Banca and Billiton
Map showing part of the island of Java
Map showing the route taken by Abel Tasman
Merchants of various origin in Bantam
Minaret near Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Observation post at Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Print depicting the circumcision of the king of Bantam
Remains of a wall at Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Remains of a wall at Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Remanins of a wall of Fort Speelwijck in Banten
Ruin of what was probably a memorial stone in the burial ground of Fort Speelwijck
Sea chart of the Sunda Straits
Southern part of the Straits of Malacca, part 10 from the volume
Sumatra and the Malacca Strait
The city of Bantam on the island of Java
The Dutch fleet is attacked on the Bantam roadstead (1596)
The governor of Bantam grants an audience
The north coast of Java, Bantam to Batavia
The Northern coast of West Java, from Sunda Strait to Cape Krawang
View from an angle of Bantam and the Java coast
View of a part of Bantam with Portuguese vessels leaving the harbour after the attack of 1601
View of Bantam
View of Bantam market
View of Bantam showing an attack on the Portuguese fleet in 1601
View of Bantam showing an attack on the Portuguese fleet in 1601
View of Bantam with an attack on the Portuguese fleet in 1601
View of part of Bantam showing an attack on the Portuguese fleet in 1601
View of part of Bantam with an attack on the Portuguese fleet of 1601
View of part of Bantam with an attack on the Portuguese fleet of 1601
View of the city of Bantam
View of the coast near Bantam
Views and street maps of eight cities
Views of the bay of Bantam
Walls of Fort Speelwijck at Banten

Around 1600 Bantam was Java's most important port. It was the first port of call for Dutch vessels in the Indonesian archipelago. The king of Bantam did not enjoy absolute power but was forced to take into account the wishes of his regent and those of the harbour master. Bantam was a wealthy town with an important market that attracted traders from India, Persia and China. However, the town was forced to relinquish its leading position some years later, when Batavia became the VOC's economic centre in Asia. In the early 17th century Bantam was recognised as the principal trading centre of the Indonesian archipelago. Goods of every kind from all over Asia could be found here. For the VOC, spices - particularly pepper - were the most important commodity. The Company tried in vain to establish a key position through its base here; the English opposed them, as did the local regent who feared the VOC would eventually dominate the market. The conflicts increased, and the Company decided to move on to neighbouring Jacatra, which was later to become Batavia. The Dutch first arrived in Bantam in 1596, at a time when the Portuguese had already built up a strong market position some years previously. The Portuguese had no intention of relinquishing their hold on the town to the Dutch newcomers. The Company's relations with the local rulers of the town were strained, as they opposed the VOC's attempts to dominate the market. Throughout the 17th century new conflicts kept plaguing relations between the VOC and Bantam, from which the Company emerged as the victor each time. In 1756 Bantam finally fell under the Company's control.