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Dutch Capture of Elmina (1637)
On August 29, 1637 Dutch West India Company forces under Jan Kieft stormed and captured the Portuguese-held Elmina Castle (Castle of St.…
Timeline
- 1637Elmina coast · West AfricaThe Dutch West India Company dispatched a fleet to the Gold Coast; soldiers landed and seized the high ground near the castle, establishing artillery dominance over Elmina Castle.
- 1637Elmina Castle · West AfricaUnder sustained bombardment and a land-based pincer attack, the outnumbered Portuguese garrison surrendered; the castle's commander formally opened the gates. The Dutch flag was raised over Castle of St. George, marking full Dutch West India Company control of this strategic site and mastery of the Gold Coast's slave and gold trade.
Sources
- The Dutch in the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1600–1815 — Johannes Menne Postma (1990)
- Elmina Castle https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/34/