Dutch Elmina Fort (1640s)

Timeline

1. 1641–1643Fort St. George (Elmina) · Gold CoastAfter capturing Elmina in 1637, the Dutch West India Company completed fort repairs and garrison deployment in the early 1640s. Fort St. George became the company's Gold Coast headquarters, controlling the gold trade routes into the interior.
2. 1644–1647Gold Coast trading post network · Gold CoastCentered on Elmina, the Dutch expanded a network of trading posts along the coast. Gold exports and slave trade volumes grew significantly; the company secured trade monopolies through agreements with local chiefs, replacing Portugal as the dominant European power.
3. 1648–1650Coast of the Gulf of Guinea · Gulf of GuineaDutch dominance at Elmina drew the attention of competitors such as England. Though Portugal had lost Elmina, it remained active at some posts. By the late 1640s, the Gold Coast became the focal area of European rivalry for West African trade.