Paulus van Caerden

On 21 December 1599, Pieter Both, with Van Caerden as vice-admiral, led an expedition commissioned by the Brabantsche Compagnie, founded by Isaac le Maire, to the East Indies.

Pieter Both sailed to Bantam, while Van Caerden unsuccessfully attempted to establish trading relations with Aceh, in the northern parts of Sumatra.

On 7 May 1607 Van Caerden sent a letter to Dom Estêvão in which he threatened to pillage the entire area, unless he was bought off with a large sum of money.

Dom Estêvão rejected the proposal, upon which the Dutch carried out their threat, setting the city on fire and cutting down all the trees before lifting the siege, which had lasted for two months.

Van Caerden then travelled to Moro, in the northern part of Halmahera in a small boat, and conquered an island called Siauw, which was most likely Morotai and was defended by ten Spanish soldiers.

After Van Caerden was released by the Spaniards, he took back command of the fleet, but because of his own carelessness he was captured again at the start of July on his ship the Goede Hope.