The Dutch Traders

The decision to close our borders to foreign merchants was surely a most prudent one. It has, however, cost the port of Nagasaki dearly. Some now suggest that we should in fact keep trade open with the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch view the Spanish and Portuguese with as much distrust as we do and their behavior has always been more balanced and restrained in our country. If we keep our borders open to the Dutch, however, some restrictions will surely still be needed. In the bay of Nagasaki the artificial island of Dejima was once created to house the Portuguese. If we restrict the Dutch to this island any dangerous influence will surely be stopped from spreading to the rest of our country.