Dutch colonisation of the Guianas

Dutch colonisation of the Guianas
1621–1959[a]
Dutch controlled Guiana at its greatest extent in dark green; claimed but uncontrolled land shown in light green.
Dutch controlled Guiana at its greatest extent in dark green; claimed but uncontrolled land shown in light green.
CapitalParamaribo
Common languagesDutch
Religion
Dutch Reformed Church
Historical eraColonial period
• Established
1621
1652–1654
1665–1667
1672–1674
1674
1780–1785
• United Kingdom gained control of the three colonies Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo, the colony Suriname remains under Dutch control
1959
• Disestablished
1959[a]
CurrencyDutch guilder, Surinamese guilder
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Dutch West India Company
Demerara
Berbice
Essequibo (colony)
Suriname (Dutch colony)
State of Maranhão (colonial)
New Andalusia Province
British Guiana
Suriname (Dutch colony)
Kingdom of Brazil
French Guiana

The Dutch began their colonisation of the Guianas, the coastal region between the Orinoco and Amazon rivers in South America, in the late 16th century. The Dutch originally claimed all of Guiana (also called De wilde kust, the "Wild Coast") but—following attempts to sell it first to Bavaria and then to Hanau and the loss of sections to Portugal, Britain, and France—the section actually settled and controlled by the Netherlands became known as Dutch Guiana (Dutch: Nederlands-Guiana).

The colonies of Essequibo and Demerara were controlled by the Dutch West India Company, while Berbice and Surinam were controlled by the Society of Berbice and the Society of Suriname, respectively. Cayenne also came under brief periods of Dutch control. After the Napoleonic Wars in 1814, Britain gained control of the three colonies (Demerara, Berbice, and Essequibo) west of the Courantyne River, which became British Guiana and then modern Guyana. The remaining colony, Suriname (also called "Dutch Guiana"), remained under Dutch control until its independence in 1975.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).