Map of Batavia, Châtelain

This is a detail of a map depicting the Dutch stronghold of Batavia from the Atlas Historique, an expansive Dutch encyclopedia compiled by Henri Abraham Châtelain and first published between 1705 to 1720. Batavia, now present-day Jakarta, was founded in 1619 by the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC) as a trade and administrative center for the company's operations in the region. Situated on the north coast of Java, Batavia provided the VOC with a strong position to conduct commercial and military operations throughout East and Southeast Asia.