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Shipping routes are the focus of this map of the Dutch East Indies, indicated by red lines labelled with the name of the shipping company and the destinations. Parcel shipping routes are also shown. Inset maps feature railway lines too.

The seas of the Dutch East Indies are the focus of this map, with maritime routes, sea temperature, sea depth, currents and monsoons shown. There are graphs of population by ethnicity, agriculture and livestock, trade and shipping, and trade exports.

Map of the Indian Ocean dominated by a rhumbline network—a web of interconnected lines used to help plot routes—with a compass rose at the centre. At the top there are (incomplete) drawings of people with text in Dutch, French, English and Spanish.

Colourful map of the East Indies focusing on maritime navigation: there is a compass rose at the centre of a rhumbline network (a web of lines to help plot routes). Shoals, reefs and islands are also marked.

Colourful map of the East Indies focusing on maritime navigation: there is a compass rose at the centre of a rhumbline network (a web of lines to help plot routes). Shoals, reefs and islands are also marked.

The illustration on this map highlights the wealth of the Asian trade routes, with merchants wearing colourful and elaborate robes presenting valuable treasures to a royal figure. A monkey, tortoise and camel emphasise the 'exoticism' of Asia.

An early 18th century map of the Indian Ocean, illustrated with a drawing of Asian merchants riding an elephant and using a camel to transport their goods. Other men use bows and arrows to hunt ostriches. Ships are also shown sailing on the ocean.

Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula feature on this map of the Indian Ocean. Enganno Island, west of southern Sumatra, has a label that translates as ‘inhabited by very pernicious savages’. An inset map depicts the Madura Strait between Java and Madura.

The cartouche on this map of Asia is decorated with a colourful painting illustrating the region’s commerce, with Asian merchants displaying an assortment of goods, including jewellery, porcelain vessels and figurines, textiles and exotic animals.

This mid-17th century map of the Indian Ocean has a colourful cartouche illustrated with paintings of Asian merchants and warriors with bows and arrows. The scale is decorated with paintings of cherubs.

This mid-17th century map of Southeast Asia is from Isaac Commelin’s book describing the voyages of the Dutch East India Company ‘Begin ende voortgangh…’. There is an inset map of the island of Botton (Buton Island, southeast of Celebes (Sulawesi)).