Territories Conquered/Colonized by the Netherlands: A Historical List

The Dutch Republic and later Kingdom acquired overseas territories across four centuries. Major possessions (with approximate periods of Dutch control):

• Indonesia (Dutch East Indies, 1602–1949)
• South Africa (Cape Colony, 1652–1806/1910)
• Suriname (1667–1975)
• Netherlands Antilles (1634–2010; now Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, St. Eustatius)
• Sri Lanka (Ceylon, 1658–1796)
• Taiwan (Formosa, 1624–1662)
• Brazil (Dutch Brazil, 1630–1654)
• New Netherland / New York (1624–1664)
• Mauritius (1598–1710)
• Maldives (1645–1751)
• Bahrain (1631–1783)
• Qatar (1717–1733)
• Réunion (1665–1710)
• Madagascar (1642–1674, limited forts)
• Seychelles (1609–1810)
• Western Australia coast (explored/claimed 1629–1788, no permanent settlement)
• New Zealand (charted 1642, no settlement)

"Conquered" varies: some were traded, ceded, or lost to rivals (Britain, France). The list reflects peak Dutch territorial reach.