400 years of trade between Japan and Holland

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to enter Japan. But the Japanese didn't appreciate at all their Christian religious zeal, and they were swiftly kicked out. The Dutch, who came a bit later, were only interested in business. Nothing else.

So, in 1609 a Dutch trading post was established in Japan, upon invitation of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. The start of a special and long lasting relation between the two countries. Until 1854 the Dutch settlement at Dejima, in the bay of Nagasaki, was Japan's only opening to the west.

So for a couple hundred years the Japanese decided to live in perfect isolation from the West, only acquiring from the Dutch what they thought was relevant for them. Until 4 American warships sailed uninvited into the bay of Tokyo in 1853, and broke the country open.

More on the Dutch trade post in Nagasaki bay (plus interesting pictures of how the Japanese saw the Dutch) : see Wikipedia on Dejima.
More events on the Official Website 400 years of trade.

For the incredible, but true story of William Adams, an English sailor and one of the few survivors of the first Dutch vessel reaching Japan, click here. The man later became the first European Samurai.

If you fly into the Netherlands don't forget to visit the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport dependance of the Rijksmuseum. Entrance for FREE !
Check here for current exhibits. Also information and pictures of past exhibits, e.g. the one on Japan with unique historic Japanese paintings of these exotic Dutch visitors.