Dutch Formosa

Construction starts on film set in preparation for biggest production in Taiwan film history

Wei Te-sheng at site of film set under construction for first installation of upcoming "Taiwan Trilogy."
Entertainment 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

Construction started September 1 on a film set to reproduce an indigenous settlement of the Siraya people from 400 years ago, in preparation for what is slated to become the biggest film production in Taiwan’s history. Taiwan filmaker Wei Te-sheng, who previously wrote and directed blockbusters Cape No.7, and Seediq Bale: Warriors of the Rainbow, has undertaken a massive project in the form of a historical trilogy covering the Dutch colonial era in Taiwan in the early 17th century. The

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Rediscovered Map Sheds Light on Taiwan’s first Town

Dutch academics at Academia Sinica with map of Zeelandia
Culture 
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Dutch scholars joined researchers from Academia Sinica at a press conference today to unveil a cadastral map of the township of Zeelandia dating back to the Dutch colonial period. Menno Leenstra, a researcher at the Dutch International Heritage Center said that he had stumbled across the map while doing research on the extinct dodo bird three years ago. The map was among documents belonging to the head of the Dutch East India Company, Nicasius de Hooghe. De Hoogue had been

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Dutch Era Well Restored in Yunlin County

Dutch well guken township
Culture 
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Photos: UDN A village well dug during the Dutch occupation of Taiwan over 300 years ago, is being restored in Mayuan Village, Gukeng Township, Yunlin County. Village elders have fond memories of the well, which served as the village’s sole source of water until reticulated water was introduced in the 1950s. Workers are currently dredging the 55 meter deep well. Water will be tested for safety, and may be used for watering public gardens in the future.

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Dutch Colonial Era Ships Found in Tainan

Dutch Fort Zeelandia Formosa
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 2 Comments , ,

Eight wrecks dating back to the Dutch colonial era have been discovered underwater in Taijiang National Park, Tainan, according to Academia Sinica Department of History and Philology researcher Liu I-chang. The ships were found after a study was commissioned four years ago. Mr Liu called on the government to develop an excavation plan. He said Taiwan played an important role in the age of exploration in the 17th century and that this history should be shared with the rest of

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Low Water Levels Reveal Old Well: Maybe from Dutch Era Formosa

An old well in Taiwan that may have been built by the Dutch
Culture 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Receding water levels at a reservoir in Chiayi County have revealed a well that has been submerged since the reservoir was reconstructed during the Japanese colonial period. The Lantan Reservoir was originally constructed by the Dutch when they occupied Formosa 1624 to 1662. After the Dutch left, the reservoir fell into disrepair. A Hakka immigrant surnamed Wu bought the land where the well is located, but during the Japanese colonial period, the land was resumed, and the reservoir reconstructed to

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