Construction and role of Dutch coastal forts in West Africa (1620–1800)

1. Treaty of Asebu enables Fort Nassau at Mouri

   Jan 1, 1612Labels: Asebu, Fort Nassau, Moree

   • Fort Nassau

2. Dutch West India Company chartered for Atlantic warfare

   Jan 1, 1621Labels: Dutch West, Dutch Republic

   • Britannica

3. WIC expands and formalizes Fort Nassau operations

   Jan 1, 1624Labels: Fort Nassau, Dutch West

   • Fort Nassau
   • Britannica

4. Dutch capture Elmina Castle from Portugal

   Aug 29, 1637Labels: Elmina Castle, Portugal, Dutch forces

   • Battle Elmina
   • Elmina Castle

5. Dutch take Axim’s Fort Saint Anthony

   Jan 1, 1642Labels: Fort Saint, Axim

   • Fort Anthony

6. Dutch capture Fort São Sebastião at Shama

   Jan 1, 1642Labels: Fort S, Shama

   • Fort Shama
   • Britannica

7. Fort Crèvecœur built at Accra

   Jan 1, 1649Labels: Fort Cr, Accra

   • Ussher Fort

8. Dutch build Fort Coenraadsburg overlooking Elmina

   Jan 1, 1652Labels: Fort Coenraadsburg, St Jago

   • Fort Coenraadsburg
   • Elmina Castle

9. Treaty of Butre signed and Fort Batenstein established

   Aug 27, 1656Labels: Treaty of, Fort Batenstein

   • Treaty Butre
   • Fort Batenstein

10. De Ruyter captures and renames Fort Amsterdam

    Jan 1, 1665Labels: Michiel de, Fort Amsterdam

    • GMMB Amsterdam

11. Fort Goede Hoop built at Senya Beraku

    Jan 1, 1667Labels: Fort Goede, WIC

    • Fort Goede Hoop

12. Fort Elize Carthago built near Ankobra River mouth

    Jan 1, 1703Labels: Fort Elize, Ankobra River

    • Fort Elize

13. Fort Elize Carthago abandoned amid local conflict

    Jan 1, 1711Labels: Fort Elize

    • Fort Elize

14. British expedition captures most Dutch forts, not Elmina

    Nov 1, 1781Labels: British expedition, Elmina Castle

    • Gold Coast expedition
    • Battle Elmina 1781

15. WIC dissolved; forts continue under Dutch state control

    Jan 1, 1794Labels: Dutch West, Dutch state

    • Britannica

16. Dutch coastal forts remain key nodes in Atlantic trade

    Jan 1, 1800Labels: Dutch coastal, Gold Coast

    • Elmina Castle
    • Fort Nassau