’Lest it be conquered by the wind’: The early evolution of VOC fortifications on Dutch Formosa (c. 1620–1650)

Fort Zeelandia is prominent in debates about European fortress design and the establishment of European power overseas. Some argue that Zeelandia confirms notions of a specific European military advantage in the early modern period. Yet the evolution of Zeelandia’s design has been insufficiently studied in this context. This paper uses archival sources on Dutch Formosa to examine the construction of Zeelandia and the other colonial forts on southwestern Formosa up to c. 1650 and contextualizes developments in colonial fort-building by the VOC throughout Asia. It delineates a shift away from European convention towards a style better adjusted to local demands, which requires reconsideration of the terms of the discussion.