Dutch presence in the region started with the capture of Sulawesi from the Portuguese, and ended with the establishment of the State of East Indonesia.

[2] Sulawesi prior to Dutch governance had been a part of the Sultanate of Gowa.

In 1660 a large fleet under Johan van Dam bombarded Makassar.

From 1667 onward the VOC held Fort Rotterdam in the port of Makassar.

[3] After four months of conflict to force Sultan Hasanuddin to submit, on 18 November 1667 the Treaty of Bongaya was signed, by which Dutch governance was accepted.