The distortions and omissions in this colorful map of Taiwan, made in 1636 by cartographer Johannes Vingboons, reveal how the Dutch conceived of the island. There is far more detail in the southwest, where Dutch power was concentrated: The bays and sandbars there are exaggerated in size. Sounding numbers are provided up only half the west coast, reminding us that the northern half of the island remained terra incognita, except for the northernmost coast, which was the site of the Spanish colony. The mountains in the center are unnamed and without detail, since they were the least known parts of Taiwan. By the end of the Dutch period, most of the mountains were still unexplored. Used by permission of the Dutch National Archive, The Hague, Netherlands (finding aid: VELH 619-52).