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Consulaat Generaal Guangzhou

The Dutch in Guangzhou: History

A short history of Guangzhou and the Netherlands representation
Guangzhou has a long history. As early as 200 BC, during the reign of the Nanyue kings, it was a flourishing city already. During the Qin-dynasty (221- 206 BC), the emperor conquered the coastal areas at the Pearl River. It lasted another hundred years before the Han Chinese from Northern China supplanted the original inhabitants. During the Tang dynasty (618- 907) sailors and merchants from Persia and Malacca were common visitors in Guangzhou. The city flourished until the eleventh century. Thereafter, a period of decay begun, which had its origin in wars and piracy. From the fourteenth century on, the situation got better again and the city was able to reestablish its position as most important harbor of China.

First contacts with Europeans date from the sixteenth century. The Portuguese were allowed to establish in Macao in 1557 and the Jesuits somewhat later, in Zhaoqing, which is 100 km west of Guangzhou. In 1685 Guangzhou was opened for trade to the outside world by the imperial regime. Foreign merchants were allowed to build storehouses, from where goods were shipped to the western world. However, in 1757, only one guild in Guangzhou was bestowed with the right to trade with foreigners. This resulted in an initiative of the west to start the opium wars. British troops occupied the city twice, first in 1841 and later again between 1857 till 1861. From 1860 on, the British and French had extraterritorial rights in enclaves in the city.

The Dutch discovered the business opportunities of Canton quite early. In 1728, the VOC decided to send a ship (the "Coxhoorn") to Canton. This journey was, from a business perspective (tea and porcelain), a great success. Thereupon, the decision was made to establish a permanent trade post ("factorij") in Canton. The main reason for this was the flourishing tea trade. After the VOC was closed down, tea trade continued with American ships.

The trade post of Holland burned down in 1822, but a new one was build at the same place. In 1838 the Dutch representation was bestowed with the title of Nederlandsch Commercieel Agentschap in China (NCA, English: Dutch Commercial Agency). During the opium war, the British trade post and the NCA burned down. The Parliament decided upon to appoint a Consul- General in China in 1872, who established himself in Shanghai. [source: "Tribuut aan China", Dr L. Blussé]

During the turn of the century, many secret organizations which intented to bring down the Qing dynasty were set up. In 1905 a number of those political groupings combined forces to form the Alliance for the Chinese Revolution. This alliance was led by Sun Yat- Sen, who was born in Guangdong Province. In 1911, the Qing dynasty was brought down and the republic was proclaimed. In 1949, after the war with Japan, the People's republic of China was proclaimed by Chairman Mao Zedong.

When Mao Zedong tried to make China independent from the rest of the world, Deng Xiaoping took refugee in Guangdong. The liberalization of the economy after 1978 by Deng Xiaoping had great implications for the area around Guangdong. Special Economic Zones were established (Shenzhen, Zhuhai, etc.) and factories were set up. The economy is flourishing until today.

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