Governorate of Ambon, Dutch East India Company governorate in Ambon Island, Indonesia.
The Governorate of Ambon was a Dutch colonial administrative unit covering Ambon Island and around ten surrounding islands in the Maluku archipelago. The territory was organized around the production and export of spices such as cloves and nutmeg.
The Dutch took control of Ambon from the Portuguese in 1605 and made it the first capital of their possessions in East Asia. The region lost that role when Batavia became the new administrative center of the Dutch East India Company in 1619.
A community grew here where Portuguese-influenced language and trade customs remained part of daily life well into the 19th century. Visitors walking through Ambon today can still notice traces of this layered past in old neighborhoods and local markets.
Those interested in this colonial history can explore museums and surviving historic buildings in Ambon city on foot. Visiting during the drier months makes moving around more comfortable, as the region has a warm and humid climate year round.
The Dutch administration enforced a policy of destroying clove trees on any island not officially approved for production, in order to control prices in Europe. This practice, known as extirpation, left a deep mark on the memory of communities across the Maluku islands.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
