Kaart van de Banda-eilanden, 1599 1600 - 1645

This anonymous map from the early 17th century depicts the Banda Islands in Indonesia. The map, created in the style of a Dutch cartographic tradition, uses precise lines and clear labels to mark the location and features of each island. These islands were significant in the spice trade, especially for their nutmeg, which the Dutch sought to control during the 17th century. The map, housed in the Rijksmuseum, provides a visual insight into the colonial ambitions of the Dutch East India Company.