Following the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Dutch War, the Dutch deployed a force under Admiral Abraham Crijnssen to capture Surinam.

Following the surrender, the English colonists in the region were required to pay a sum of 100,000 pounds of sugar as a form of ransom.

Subsequently, they were given the choice of leaving or pledging their allegiance to the States of Zealand, a Dutch province.

The majority of the English colonists opted to swear allegiance to the Dutch authorities.

To transport the significant amount of sugar collected as part of the ransom, Crijnssen arranged for it to be shipped to Zealand using the vessel Aardenburg.