Exploring the past of the VOC

This interactive story will take you back +-300 years When the Batavia massacre took place in Batavia (now known as Jakarta). From 1621 the Dutch ruled the whole region where Jakarta is located. A great number of ethnic Chinese lived in Batavia when the Dutch ruled the city. In 1740 the Batavia massacre took place and it took a large number of Dutch but way more Chinese lives. proceed to [[story]]

This interactive story will let you choose two main ways to explore the Batavia massacre. You can either choose to 'experience' this historical event through the eyes of a revolting [[Chinese citizen]] or a [[Dutch army general]].

You are a Chinese citizen living in Batavia. During the early phase of Dutch colonialism in the East-Indies a lot of trade took place between China and the Dutch colonies in the East-Indies. This caused for a lot of Chinese people to migrate to the East-Indies and become shopkeepers, traders, sugar mill workers but mostly skilled artisans in the construction of Batavia. You as a Chinese sugar mill worker are being exploited by the Chinese mill owners but also by the Dutch who are setting the sugar price. Moreover, many Chinese were ordered to be deported by the Dutch and some stories go that they are being thrown overboard. What is your descision? [[keep on]] living in these circumstances while being exploited and faced with inequal treatment and maybe even (violent) deportation? Or [[revolt]] against the ruling Dutch by attacking them with self made weapons to stand up againt the exploitation and violence?

You see a gathering of 50 Chinese workers around a sugar mill that are planning to attack your soldiers. This could cost lives and eventualy damage the wealth of the VOC. Would you [[fight them]] or try to [[reason]]?

You are picked up by Dutch officials and taken on a ship..

You revolt against the ruling Dutch. A fight led by Kapitein Nie Hoe Kong takes place and 50 Dutch soldiers do not survive it. Do you manage to [[stay alive]]? Or are you hit by a weapon of one of the Dutch soldiers and [[pass away]]?

You managed to stay alive and remain in Batavia together with the small amount of Chinese survivors. It becomes apparent that Batavia was in need on Chinese workers and a large immigration flow occurs from China to Batavia.

Go back to [[story]]

You decided to fight the Chinese revolt. It results in a massacre that takes days. Eventually peace returns and the damage to the wealth of the VOC is limited, at the cost of approximately 10,000 Chinese lives.

The Chinese are not up to talk and will overthrow you right away. The wealth of the VOC is damaged and you will [[pass away]]