Banjar was known as a pepper producer in Nusantara. This King of Spices throve in Banjar hinterland, leading the place to be the pepper supplier for the coastal areas.

It gave rise to the glory of the Banjar Kingdom, particularly in economics. The development also encouraged the people of Banjar to eventually produce other best-selling products in the markets, including rattan and resin, that attracted foreign traders.

The coming of foreign people to the place did not only bring a tremendous impact to the trade but also a cruel division in Banjar. It began when the Contract Craemer Opperkoopman (the Head of Trade) of VOC rejected Sultan’s request to send pepper to Makassar. A war and anti-VOC sentiment broke out in 1683. 108 Dutch died, VOC lodges were burnt down, and VOC ships were destroyed. In consequence, the estimated loss of VOC was 160.000,41 real.

Aside from the trade background, the Dutch who did not want to adapt to the customs of Banjarmasin became another factor that triggered the massacre of VOC. It was encouraged by VOC who wished to monopolize—in Banjar, they called it kuluh—the pepper trade.

Banjar Kingdom’s decision to break away from the monopoly was followed by an invitation to cooperate with Sultan Makassar to destroy VOC. The Dutch, outraged by the Banjar Kingdom’s action, sent the second expedition in 1638, which also failed, for the Banjarmasin Kingdom had a strong resistance.

Want to know more about the spice trade and the power struggle in Banjarmasin? Watch the full video by Muhammad Zahidi, one of the winners of the Spice Routes Film Competition of South Kalimantan in 2020 above.