European Discovery and Settlement
The first reported European sighting of Vandiemmensland by a European was on June 24th, 1628 by the Dutch explorer Pieter Nuyts, who reported spotting “a land among the mist far beyond the stormy sea” near modern-day Vorst Harbor. However, he was unable to approach because of wind. The island was not sighted again by Europeans until October 12th, 1634, when Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sighted and landed on Oester Bay. Further voyages by Tasman in 1635 proved that Vandiemmensland is indeed an island, and claimed it for the United Provinces. On July 5th, 1636, a penal colony, Oesterbaai, was established by the Dutch East India Company as a location to ship off unwanted individuals from the Dutch East Indies. Early colonists were mostly criminals or guards with Dutch or Indonesian origins. The colonists were able to peacefully conduct trade with the native Palawas. Several more settlements were established along the shore of eastern Vandiemmensland: Foort Schhouten (1638), Nieuw Batavia (1639), Marienberg (1642), Willemstad (1647), and Mariaville (1651). Some 40,000 criminals were transferred to Vandiemmensland between 1636 and 1646. The islands are open to general settlement in 1656, leading another boom in population.
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Japanese Settlement
Starting in 1642, a large number of Japanese Christians fled their homeland from the heightened prosecution by the Shogunate after the failed Shimabara Rebellion. In May 3rd, 1643, the Dutch offered asylum to the Japanese Christians. The asylum was approved by the Shogun, who is eager to get rid of such pests, in the Treaty of Nagasaki. A massive population transfer took place in the following years, when a large number of the exiles started to settle in Dutch Australia. A substantial amount of Japanese settled in the previously inhabited Warabe Archipelago, founding the towns of Seikou (1645) and Uodou (1646). By 1650, some 30,000 Japanese immigrated to the Warabe Archipelago.
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The Oceanic War
VOC's Australian possessions were sold off to the Dutch government in 1701 as a bid to save the company from the bankruptcy caused by the declining trade and increased competition. Vandiemmensland was incorporated into the State Colony of Nieuw Holland along with Nieuw Zeeland and Nuytia (Western Australia) in 1702. During the 1710s, Anglo-Dutch tension heightened, as border conflicts became increasing prevalent in Malayan border regions, between Continental Nieuw Holland and the British colony of New Ireland, and between Dutch Tranvancore and British East India. In 1721, an border conflict finally escalated to all-out war when Dutch troops fired upon British scouts believing they are Muslim rebels, on the island of Singapore. France joins the war on the side of United Province and Portugal honored their old alliance with Great Britain. At first, Franco-Dutch troops gained success on land, overwhelming British forces in the Siege of Manila (1721-1722), the Battle of Vellore (1722), and the Battle of Aceh (1722). However, as the war continued, it became clear that Britain and Portugal holds naval supremacy, or the initiative of the war. The Battle of Serlat Behala (1725) saw 70% of the Dutch naval forces stationed in Dutch East Indies decimated; this is followed by a string of land and naval victories for the Anglo-Portuguese forces. The war ended in 1729, with the signing of the Treaty of Hamburg. Great Britain annexed Nieuw Zeeland, Nuytia, Dutch Indian processions, and the port of Saigon; Portugal annexed Bali and Papua. With Nieuw Holland dissolved, Vandiemmensland became the sole remainder of the former Dutch Australian Empire. Much of the Dutch, Japanese, and Indonesians from the former Nieuw Holland emigrated to Vandiemmensland to escape British rule, nearly doubling the population.
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Contemporary Era
In 1986, after more than eight decades of de facto independence due to World War I, World War II, and the Indonesian Wars, the Colony of Vandiemmensland was officially reorganized into the independent Dominion of Vandiemmensland. The post of governor-general was formally replaced with an elected president as the head of government and Queen Beatrix was established once again as the head of state. A highly developed nation, Vandiemmensland is consistently ranked among the top 10 in the Quality of Life Index and Global Freedom Index. The cities of Nieuw Batavia and Nieuw Arnhem are considered some of the most liveable cities in the world. Vandiemmensland is also well-known for its eco-tourism, as the state is nicknamed the “Emerald Isle”, with 42% of the country lies in national parks or conservation areas. Vandiemmensland is a founding member of AES (Australasian Economic Sphere) and WTO.
According to the 2010 census, 30.6% of the 1,432,885 inhabitants are Dutch, and 10.3% are Europeans of non-Dutch origins. Japanese consist of 12.3% of the population. 3.4% are of Palawa origin and 7.1% are of Indonesian origin. 10.5% are Asians of non-Japanese origins and 0.2% are Blacks. 26.0% have a mix of Asian, European, or Palawa ancestry.