Smeerenburg
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The settlement of Smeerenburg on Amsterdam Island in north-west Svalbard, originated with Dutch whalers before 1620: one of Europe's northernmost outposts. During the first intensive phase of the Spitsbergen whale fishery, Smeerenburg served as the centre of operations in the north. (The name Smeerenburg, in the Dutch language, literally means "blubber town").
Around 1660, with the decline of whaling, the settlement became abandoned.
In 1973 the ruins of Smeerenburg became part of Norway's North West Spitsbergen National Park.
[edit] References
| Dutch empire |
|---|
| Former colonies |
| Africa: Arguin Island - Cape Colony - Lydsaamheid fort & factory in Delagoa Bay - Dutch Gold Coast - Gorée - Mauritius |
| The Americas: Berbice - New Holland (in Brazil) (part), Dutch Brazil - Dutch Guiana - Demerara - Essequibo annex Pomeroon New Netherland (New Amsterdam, New Sweden) - Tobago - Virgin Islands (part) |
| Asia & Oceania: Ceylon - Dutch India (Dutch Bengal - Coromandel Coast - Malabar Coast) - Deshima island, Japan - Dutch East Indies - Malacca - Netherlands New Guinea - Taiwan |
| Artic: Smeerenburg on Amsterdam island |
| See also: Dutch East India Company - Dutch West India Company |
| Present colonies |
| Kingdom of the Netherlands: Netherlands Antilles - Aruba |
