Reference
A History of Sri Lanka
The standard history of Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura to independence.
Dutch Ceylon
Colonial settlement
Level 2
1658 – 1796
VOC-ruled coastal Sri Lanka; Galle Fort.
- Capital
- Colombo
- Region
- Sri Lanka
- Duration
- 138 years
- Main period
- European Maritime Powers
- Part of
- Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India
Approximate extent.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1656 | Dutch take Colombo from the Portuguese Portuguese rule in Sri Lanka ended by 1658. |
Colombo |
Sites & monuments
Galle Fort
Capital / fort · 1663
📚 Recommended reading on the Dutch Ceylon
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Dutch Ceylon for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 138 years
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Overlap: 111 years
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Overlap: 138 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 138 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 138 years
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Overlap: 138 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 138 years
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Overlap: 138 years
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Overlap: 138 years
Maratha Empire ★
Deccan · 1674 – 1818
Overlap: 122 years
Nawabs of Bengal ★
East · 1717 – 1765
Overlap: 48 years
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Overlap: 72 years
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Overlap: 108 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 138 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 138 years
Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1686
Overlap: 28 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 138 years
Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)
Deccan · 1518 – 1687
Overlap: 29 years
Madurai Nayaks
South · 1529 – 1736
Overlap: 78 years
Portuguese Bassein & Bombay
Coastal · 1534 – 1739
Overlap: 81 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 138 years
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Overlap: 138 years
Gorkha Kingdom
Himalaya · 1559 – 1768
Overlap: 110 years
Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India
Coastal · 1605 – 1825
Overlap: 138 years
Dutch Coromandel (Pulicat)
Coastal · 1610 – 1825
Overlap: 138 years
Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
Himalaya · 1616 – 1907
Overlap: 138 years
Danish India
Coastal · 1620 – 1869
Overlap: 138 years
Danish Tranquebar
Coastal · 1620 – 1845
Overlap: 138 years
Fort St George, Madras
Coastal · 1639 – 1858
Overlap: 138 years
Dutch Chinsurah
Coastal · 1656 – 1825
Overlap: 138 years
Dutch Malabar (Cochin)
Coastal · 1663 – 1795
Overlap: 132 years
French India
Coastal · 1668 – 1954
Overlap: 128 years
Bombay (English East India Company)
Coastal · 1668 – 1858
Overlap: 128 years
Chandernagore
Coastal · 1673 – 1950
Overlap: 123 years
Pondichéry
Coastal · 1674 – 1954
Overlap: 122 years
Carnatic (Nawabs of Arcot)
South · 1692 – 1855
Overlap: 104 years
Hotak Dynasty
Northwest · 1709 – 1738
Overlap: 29 years
Gaekwad State (Baroda)
West · 1721 – 1949
Overlap: 75 years
Rohilkhand
Gangetic Plain · 1721 – 1774
Overlap: 53 years
Mahé
Coastal · 1721 – 1954
Overlap: 75 years