Christopher Columbus born between 25 August and 31 October 1451, died 20 May 1506 was an Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean sponsored by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas.
His expeditions were the first known European contact with the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
After the discovery of Sint Eustatius in 1493, the Europeans lost interest in settling here due to the lack of natural fresh water sources.
In 1636, the Dutch built cisterns on the island, and it soon became permanently inhabited.
Fort Oranje was built and Sint Eustatius became a transit port for African slaves, sugar, molasses, gin, rum, cotton, and other products.
The island’s activities were an important source of income for the Dutch West India Company.
Trade blossomed with the constant flow of ships in and out of the harbor, making Sint Eustatius a wealthy trading outpost and filling the warehouses in Oranjestad with luxury products.
The “Golden Rock” was born!
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Team Statia – NL
Regards,
Statia or Statius, is another name for the official nam: St. Eustatius, Sint Eustatius
Statia or “Stay-sha”lies in the northern Leeward Islands portion of the West Indies, southeast of the Virgin Islands, immediately to the northwest of Saint Kitts & Nevis and to the southeast of Saba. The first inhabitants of Statia were the Saladoids, who arrived in sea faring canoes from South America before the end of the 15th century. The name of the island, “Sint Eustatius”, is the Dutch name for Saint Eustace a legendary Christian martyr.