St. Eustatius, a small island in the Lesser Antilles, has played an important role in Atlantic World history. Since its first permanent European settlement in 1636, the island changed hands 22 times between the Dutch, French, and English. As a result of the Dutch free trade policy, St. Eustatius became one of the Caribbean’s main transshipment centers in the eighteenth century. During the American War of Independence (1775-1783), large amounts of arms, ammunition, and gunpowder were shipped to the North American rebels from St. Eustatius. In its heyday, the island was home to a cosmopolitan community of merchants, planters, mariners, and enslaved Africans.

This turbulent history has been depicted in numerous works of art throughout the past four centuries of colonial history. These include maps, drawings, engravings, paintings, and photographs. While some of these are well known, many have never been published or analyzed. This book will take the reader on a thematic journey through St. Eustatius’s past, illustrated by historic artwork and photographs. It aims to present an updated history of the island based on the author’s extensive archaeological and documentary research, complemented by visual material that has never been published before. It is intended as an easy read for anyone interested in the history of the island.