Bandaeilanden

The Banda Islands, or Bandaeilanden, are a small volcanic archipelago in the Banda Sea, part of Maluku Province, Indonesia. The group lies in the central Maluku region and comprises several islands, with Banda Neira as the main population centre and Banda Api hosting an active volcano. The islands are known for their fertile soils and historical role in the spice trade, particularly nutmeg and mace.

Historically, the Banda Islands were the original home of nutmeg and mace, spices highly valued in Europe since the 16th century. The islands became a focal point of European power struggles as the Dutch East India Company established a monopoly after the Banda Massacre of 1621, during which local inhabitants were killed or displaced. Nutmeg production was tightly controlled, and the Dutch later relocated the crop to other colonies to maintain the monopoly. The islands remained under Dutch colonial rule until Indonesia’s postwar independence.

Today, the Banda Islands are part of Maluku Province and are sparsely populated. The local economy continues to revolve around spice cultivation, especially nutmeg and mace, along with small-scale fishing. Tourism related to the history of the spice trade and diving at nearby reefs has grown in recent years, though infrastructure remains modest. The archipelago sustains communities with languages in the Banda family alongside Indonesian and Ambon Malay, reflecting a mix of traditional and national cultural influences.