TRADING AND DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE THE KINGDOM OF AYODHAYA AND HOLLAND : FROM THE DUTCH VILLAGE TO BAN HOLLAND MUSEUM

Abstract

This article wants to present the historical information on trading and diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Ayodhaya and Holland since the inauguration of diplomatic relation in the reign of king Naresuan in 1604. Holland played a significant role in trading since the reign of king Song Dhamma up to the one of king Narai. After king Narai’s reign, the trade between Ayodhaya and the foreign countries were faded including the one with Holland. However, the Dutch lived in Ayodhaya until the end of Ayutthaya period in 1767. The relation was restored in the 400^th anniversary in 2004. The Fine Arts Department restored the ancient site believing to be the old trading station of Holland and built the Hollanda Information Center to exhibit the historical relation information between Siam-Holland called Ban Hollanda Museum, showing the discovered ancient items and the historical information, run by the Fine Arts Department.