When most people think of Indonesia, they think of Bali – an island famed for its beaches, coral reefs and spiritual culture. But what few know is that the Indonesian archipelago was first discovered by a Dutch sailor over 500 years ago.
In 1511, the Dutch sailor Cornelis de Houtman became the first European to sight Indonesia. He and his crew were on their way to the Spice Islands (now part of Indonesia) when they unexpectedly came across the island …