Introduction
The relationship between Brazil and The Netherlands has already lasted for more than 400 years. From the end of the 16th century the Dutch looked for trading possibilities along the coast of Brazil. Between 1630 and 1654 a colony was established in the northeast of Brazil, which was called New Holland. Even though historical and iconographical information remains about these early contacts, little is known about the built cultural heritage from this period.
Remains from the Dutch presence are expected in eleven Brazilian coastal states. A Brazilian-Dutch-Spanish cooperation has set up a project called the Atlas of Dutch Brazil with the objective of making an inventory of these sites. In the period 2007 - 2010 the first priority will be to map all military defence works stemming from the Dutch period in Brazil, since these were essential constructions for the establishment and the protection of the colony. Historical research in Brazil, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain will be followed by archaeological surveys in Brazil. In the future the project will be enlarged to include commercial or civil objects and shipwrecks. All data will be collated and transposed onto this interactive website.