Drawing of the coast at Jacatra

After arriving at the port city of Bantam, Java, in early January 1602, the Dutch ships of the Moluccan fleet of the Fifth Expedition found access to be blocked by a Portuguese armada of approximately 30 ships. The Dutch fleet under Wolfert Harmensz. decided to engage the Portuguese. After several days of fighting the Portuguese withdrew after sustaining losses. This was a considerable blow to the Portuguese, who wished to keep the Dutch out of the trade in the East Indies. On their way, they passed by the city of Jacatra, which later would be conquered by the Dutch and turned into Batavia, the capital of the Dutch East Indies.

Joris Joostenz. Laerle drew this map of the coastline Jacatra and its surroundings in the journal of the Gelderland The text on the top right says that this drawing shows the bay of Jacatra as seen when one is anchored in front of the city.

‘A’ shows the city of Jacatra; ‘B’ shows where the ships lay anchored; ‘C’ is the city’s river. ‘D’ is the roadstead where ships lay when getting fresh water. ‘E’ is the Dutch river where the Dutch could obtain fresh water. ‘F’ is an island where the Javanese buried their dead.