Factorijen en forten: Zuid-Nederlanders in achttiende-eeuws India

Factories and forts. Southern Netherlanders in 18th century India. This chapter describes Indian encounters with a 'Belgian', or Southern Netherlandish, presence in 18th century India. It describes contextual and qualitative aspects of the economic context of pre-colonial trade in India. In 1722, the Austrian Netherlands formed an Ostend Company, the 'General Imperial India Company', which eventually received a concession to build an own 'factory'. The chapter shows European ship owners, seafarers and merchants' attempts to establish trade and negotiations with both European competitors and local rulers (zamorin, nawab). It shortly treats different attempts to do so in Gujarat, the Coromandel and Malabar-coasts and eventually Bengal (Banquibazar). In 1744, it had to be abandoned due to international political reasons. The chapter also touches on the importance of cultural interaction and ceremonial performative contexts, such as the salamalec ceremony or the offering of betel and rosewater, and refers to the Flemish artist Balthazar Solvyns, who developped a unique early etnographic visual appraisal on aspects of Hindu culture (such as music). Lastly, the chapter also mentions the exaggerated recuperation of Banquibazar by 19th century imperialist historiographers, as 'Belgium's first colony'