The Dutch Trading Post in Hirado
- reconstruction of the 1639 warehouse -
The History
The Dutch Trading Post was set up in 1609 in Hirado as a trading centre for East Asia. It was a very important place, not only for the trade but also for Japanfs foreign policy during the early Edo period.
Before Japanfs isolation policy was implemented, the Dutch Trading Post in Hirado was allowed to trade relatively freely, and many exchanges took place both in trading activities as well as in daily life. The latter half of the era of Dutch trade in Hirado was the peak period for Japanese-Dutch trade during the entire Edo period. However, unable to withstand the increasingly strict isolation policy of the Shogunate, the Dutch trading post was ordered to be demolished and relocated to Deshima in Nagasaki city. It was the end of a successful 33 year-long period of Japanese-Dutch trade, known as the Hirado era.
On October 12th 1922 the remains of the Dutch Trading Post in Hirado were
designated as an important cultural treasure. The original Dutch Wall,
Dutch Well and Dutch Wharf, are reminiscent of the old days of international
trade.
De Logie op Firando - by Montanus
The 1639 warehouse
The warehouse, built in 1639, is said to have been the first real Western
style building to be built in Japan and was a very large structure, 46m
long and 13m wide. The building was built with over 20.000 large blocks
of cut sandstone (60cm long, 30cm wide, 15cm thick) and 46cm thick square
wooden pillars, resembling a typical Dutch building in appearance and layout.
However, Japanese means of construction were used as well, such as the
use of Japanese tiles for the roof.
The warehouse was built at the peak of international trade between Japan
and the Netherlands that later continued on a smaller scale at Deshima
in Nagasaki for roughly 260 years during the Edo period. It stored enormous
amounts of goods that was traded in Hirado.
However, the appearance of the vast building must have looked very peculiar
to the Japanese at the time. It was not long before it was ordered to be
demolished by the Shogunate, stating the Christian year of construction
on the gable as the reason.
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Opening of the Hirado Dutch Trading Post
The reconstruction of the warehouse required a long period of preparation
starting almost 25 years ago but it finally opened on September 20th, 370
years after its original destruction.
The opening ceremony was attended by Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and
Princess Akishino among many other distinguished guests.
A description with pictures of the opening ceremony can be found here:
Opening Celebrations of the Hirado Dutch Trading Post
View over Hirado harbour
Introduction
The reconstruction of the 1639 warehouse of the Dutch Trading Post in Hirado
is a very important project within the Japanese - Dutch cultural ties that
have bound the countries for over 400 years. This multi-billion yen initiative
is not only very large in scope but also has deep historical meaning. Originally
built in 1639, it is regarded as the first full-fledged western building
in Japan. Even in modern times you will be able to feel the grandeur of
this building which played its part in the closing of free international
trade in Japan.
We hope you share our excitement about this project and will come to see
it for yourself now that it has opened! The Japanese visitor site will
be translated soon, but for now, please enjoy this website on the reconstruction
process and the opening.
The official website that will be translated soon is: www.hirado-shoukan.jp
Visiting the Hirado Dutch Trading Post
Opening times:
Every day: 08:30 - 17:30 (last entry at 17:00)
Opened every day of the year but closed on the third tuesday, wednesday
and thursday of June
Entrance Fee:
Adults: 300 yen
Children: 200 yen
Rental of second floor multipurpose space:
Half-day: 2000 yen
Whole-day: 3000 yen
After opening times: 3000 yen
