Golden Rock – Statia – First Salute

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 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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1776 First Salute Johannes de Graaff governor & Abraham Ravené commander Fort Oranje
1939 President F.D. Roosevelt

Remembrance

November 16th 2026 Remembrance 250 year aniversary
Fort Oranje Sint Eustatius – Statia – Remembrance

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cc National Geographic – a film by Frank Fougere- Music by Stephen J. Anderson- a Follow me Production. Brought to you via Vimeo – First-Salute.com

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