During his stay as Dutch consul in Siam, Willem Hendrik Senn van Basel continued to be amazed about the country and especially the people. However, born and raised in the Dutch East Indies, he must have been used to something…
Willem Hendrik Senn van Basel had everything to make it as a diplomat in the Far East. He was shrewd, ambitious and, not unimportantly, he belonged to what were called the old Indies families in colonial jargon. Mostly VOC-related families who had lived in the East for several generations.
Ayutthaya – the ancient capital of Siam (video)
Ayutthaya is the ancient capital of Siam. It is located 80 km north of the current capital of Thailand.
Foreign influence on the architecture of Siam/Thailand has been, so to speak, timeless. In the Sukhothai period when Siam was first mentioned, the architecture was clearly determined by an eclectic mix of Indian, Ceylonese, Mon, Khmer and Burmese style elements.
A Dutch eyewitness account of the destruction of Ayutthaya
It was the dramatic climax of the Second Burmese-Siamese War (1765-1767). On April 7, 1767, after an exhausting siege of nearly 15 months, Ayutthaya, the capital of the kingdom of Siam, as it was then so beautifully phrased, was captured and destroyed by Burmese troops 'by fire and sword'.
Born from the mists of time
There are various theories about the origin of Thailand, which are by no means all valid or academically substantiated. It therefore remains extremely difficult and challenging to make statements about this that can be labeled as historically correct in one way or another. Much has probably disappeared in the mists of time.
The Principality of Sukhothai, the cradle of Thailand
Great moments in history are often born of twists of fate, a confluence of circumstances or the seizing of opportunities. The foundation of the kingdom of Sukhothai – regarded in official Thai historiography as the cradle of modern Thailand – is a good example of this.
Osoet Pegua, a Dutch concubine in Ayutthaya
It is a striking fact that many strong women have left their mark on the history of Siam. One of these strong women had solid ties with Holland and more specifically with the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or the VOC.
Ayutthaya, once the proud capital of Siam (video)
Ayutthaya is the former capital of Siam (Thailand). The city was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767, but the many remaining ruins of the temples and palaces are reminders of the glorious time of this city.
Gerrit van Wuysthoff – a Dutch pioneer in Southeast Asia
The first Dutchman and one of the first Europeans to visit Laos extensively was the merchant Gerrit Van Wuysthoff or Geeraerd van Wuesthoff, during a mission set up by him for the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the VOC in 1641-1642.
Almost a year later, a Dutch consul returned to the Siamese capital. By Royal Decree of March 18, 1888, no. 8, Mr. JCT Reelfs was appointed consul of Bangkok with effect from April 15 of that year. Reelfs, who had previously worked in Suriname, turned out to be no keeper, however. Barely a year later, on April 29, 1889, he was dismissed by Royal Decree.
What was Thailand used to be called?
What was Thailand used to be called? Is a frequently asked question in Google. Apparently unknown to the general public. An easy question for us: Siam. But where does the name Siam actually come from? And what does Thailand mean?
Looking for Burmese traces in Chiang Mai
In the official Thai historiography, there are a number of historical phases that people prefer to talk about as little as possible. One of those periods is that of the two centuries that Chiang Mai was Burmese. You can already question the Thai identity and character of the Rose of the North anyway, because formally Chiang Mai, as the capital of the kingdom of Lanna, has not been part of Thailand for even a century.
I have a soft spot for the earliest aviation pioneers 'those magnificent men in their flying machines'. The daredevils in their flimsy boxes, which were really no more than canvas-covered wooden frames held together by some tension cables and a handful of bolts. One of them was Charles Van den Born.
Another beautiful historical story by Lung Jan about the forgotten Franco-Flemish, Daniel Brouchebourde, who was personal physician to two Siamese kings.
The Dutch consular services in Bangkok (1860-1942) – part 1.
Due to the simple fact that a Dutch embassy was not formally opened in Bangkok until after the Second World War, the consular services formed the main diplomatic representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Siam and later Thailand for more than eighty years. I would like to reflect on the not always flawless history of this diplomatic institution in the Land of Smiles and the, at times, quite colorful Dutch consuls in Bangkok.
Homan van der Heide carried the water to the sea
One of the most important and influential Dutchmen in Siam has been the far too long forgotten engineer JH Homan van der Heide. In fact, his story began in 1897. In that year, the Siamese monarch Chulalongkorn paid a state visit to the Netherlands.