Map of Southeast Asia

The publication of Joris van Spilbergen’s journal contains a detailed map of Southeast Asia as it was known at the time. The map extends from the Malaysian peninsula to the west to the Philippines in the east. From the map it is easy to see which parts of Southeast Asia were more familiar at the time. The areas of Malacca, Sumatra, northern Java, and the Philippines are drawn fairly accurately and with many coastal cities and towns listed. Meanwhile, the islands Borneo, Sulawesi and New Guinea are drawn rather incompletely and/or inaccurately. On the top right, the cartographer drew a detailed depiction of Buton and its strait. This strait was crucial for (Dutch) navigators sailing from Java to the Moluccas.