Dutch Trade in Coastal Karnataka: 1583-1763

Summary

The Dutch demonstrated interest in coastal Karnataka by the late 16th century, with active trade engagement throughout the 17th century until 1763. Their activities are documented in Dutch-language travelogues and records, including John Huyghen Van Linschoten’s 1583 account, which highlighted the commercial potential of ports like Honnavar, Basrur, and Mangalore, where rice and pepper trade thrived under Portuguese dominance. Linschoten’s observations revealed the Portuguese reliance on advance payments to local rulers for pepper procurement. Dutch interest in the region’s trade led to formal agreements, such as the 1634 treaty with the Adil Shahis of Bijapur, enabling their trade in Mirjan and Ankola while undermining Portuguese influence in Karwar. The *Monumentae Historiae Indiae* (Batavia Dagh De Register) provides detailed insights into Dutch trade dynamics, including collaborations with Keladi’s Malya merchants and competition with the Portuguese in Mangalore, Basrur, and Honnavar. Philip Baldaeus’s 1663 travelogue further described the region’s prosperity, noting brisk trade in rice and pepper. However, Dutch activities faced challenges, including port sedimentation and Shivaji’s raids, which disrupted trade by 1675. The Dutch misidentified coastal Karnataka as Malabar due to linguistic confusion between Tulu and Malayalam, a misconception persisting until the late 19th century. National Archives of India hold microfilm copies of Dutch records, offering future research opportunities. Key sources include Van Linschoten’s and Baldaeus’s accounts, the *Dagh De Register*, and J.V. Sein Van Golluessi’s memoirs, alongside scholarly analyses by Heras, Moraes, Desai, and others.