Tan-shui

Shortly after Fort Zeelandia was built in 1624, the Company governors in Batavia decided to build another fort in the north of Formosa, opting for the town off Tamsui near Kelang. According to Pieter van Dam, who recorded the history of the VOC around 1701, the town of Tamsui, or Tansoui as he calls it, boasted a fine harbour. The local industry included pearl diving and there was also alluvial gold.