View of Fuzhou

Unknown artist

The Dutch had high expectations for trade with China. The VOC sent envoys on numerous occasions in the hope of gaining permission to establish trading posts on the Chinese mainland. To no avail, however; the Company remained dependent on what the Chinese ships brought to the Dutch trading posts. Here we see a Dutch ship just off the coast – an addition for the amusement of the Chinese audience. Around 1670 the VOC tried to conduct trade in the Chinese seaside town of Fuzhou.