First Salute
The Netherlands was the first country to recognize the United States
The First Salute – How a small island wrote history
On November 16, 1776, the American ship Andrew Doria sailed into the harbor of the Dutch island of Sint Eustatius. The ship, a brig serving the newly formed United States Navy, proudly flew the Grand Union Flag, the provisional flag of the new nation. Eleven salute shots rang out from the ship in a traditional maritime greeting. High on the island's cliff, Fort Oranje answered with nine cannon shots. With that response, Dutch Governor Johannes de Graaff gave recognition to the independence of a young and fragile republic, likely without fully realizing the impact of his action.
For the Americans, it was a historic moment marking the first recognition of their existence by a foreign power. In London, however, the news caused immediate outrage. Great Britain viewed the salute as a hostile act and a direct show of support for the rebels in their colonies. Tempers flared, and this small incident helped trigger the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War (1780–1784). A single salute in the Caribbean proved to be a spark in the major conflict of international politics.
More than 150 years later, in 1939, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the island to unveil a plaque at Fort Oranje to remember the event. The moment became a lasting symbol of the early friendship between the Netherlands and the United States, a bond that began with one brave gesture.
Every year on November 16, the island celebrates Statia Day. Sint Eustatius comes alive with cultural festivities and music to honor the First Salute, reminding everyone how a small Dutch colony in the Caribbean once managed to change world history.
Statia Day 2026
On November 16, 2026, it will be exactly 250 years since Governor Johannes de Graaff greeted the American ship Andrew Doria with cannon shots from Fort Oranje. This act officially recognized the young republic of the United States of America, a historic moment that made Sint Eustatius world-famous. The island plans to celebrate this 250th anniversary with a grand commemoration, serving both as a tribute to its unique past and as an opportunity to highlight Statia's cultural and historical significance on the global stage.
Back in 2018, the Dutch Parliament passed a motion asking the government to work with Sint Eustatius and the United States to prepare for a commemoration at Fort Oranje on November 16, 2026, ideally with the leaders of both countries present. Such a joint tribute would honor their shared history and give a welcome boost to the island's international profile.
Update
Historical sources disagree on the exact number of salute shots fired. According to Barbara Tuchman's well-known book The First Salute (1988), the Andrew Doria fired thirteen shots, and Fort Oranje answered with eleven. However, journalist Willem de Bruin states in his reconstruction for the John Adams Institute that the Doria fired eleven shots and the fort returned nine. This difference is important: it shows whether Governor De Graaff knew he was greeting an official warship and whether he recognized the new country intentionally.
Sources & Reference List
- Wikipedia - First Salute
- John Adams Institute - The First Salute
- Tuchman, Barbara W. The First Salute: A View of the American Revolution (1988)