Dutch Gold Coast

The Dutch Gold Coast, or Dutch Guinea, was a part of the sector of Guinea (coastal West Africa) known in the colonial era as the Gold Coast (in present Ghana), gradually colonized by the Dutch since 1598.

History

Its capitals were Fort Nassau (present Mouri: 1598/1611-1664, 1665-1782, 1785-1867) till 1637, and then Fort Elmina, since that was taken from the Portuguese. Other Dutch settlements were

• Axim (February 1642-1664, 1665-71)
• Fort Dorothea (Akwida: 1687-1698, 1711-1712, 1732-1804)
• Fort Batenstein (Butri: 1656-1665, 1666-1871)
• Fort Apollonia (Benyin: 16..-16.., 1868-1871)
• Fort Oranje (Sekondi: 1640-1871)
• Fort San Sebastian (Shama: 1637-1664,1664-1871)
• Fort Vredenburgh (Komenda: 1785-1871)
• Carlsborg (Cape Castle: 1688-1782, 16 April 1659-May 1659)
• Fort Amsterdam (Cormantin: 1665-1721, 1785-1867)
• Fort Leydsaemheyt (Apam: 1697-1782,1785-1868)
• Fort Goede Hoop (Senya Beraku: 1667/1705-1782, 1785-1868)
• Fort Crêvecoeur (Accra: 1649-1782, 1785-1867/8)
• Fort Metaal Kruis (Dixcove: 1868-1871).
• Fort Hollandia (1725-1815, previously Gross-Friedrichsburg, part of the former Brandenburg Gold Coast settlements), sold to the Dutch by Prussia

In 1782 - 1785 the British occupied Fort Vredenburgh, Fort Amsterdam, Fort Nassau, Fort Goede Hoop, Fort Crêvecoeur (to 1786) and Fort Leydsaemheyt. On 21 February 1871, all of the Dutch Gold Coast Settlements were sold to Britain and incorporated into its Gold Coast colony.

• See Colonial Heads of Dutch Gold Coast for the frequently changed styles of the Dutch colonial officials in charge.

Sources and references

• WorldStatesmen- Ghana