The Riddle of the Dutch Reef (Het raadsel van het Hollands Rif) is an illustrated book about the 1857 shipwreck of the Dutch trading ship Van Bosse near the island of Tarama, Okinawa. It brings together oral stories collected from local islanders, historical records, and archaeological findings.
Written in Japanese, Dutch, and Taramese — a language now spoken only by elderly residents — the book preserves both cultural memory and an endangered language. It also fosters public engagement with the Dutch Reef archaeological site.
This project is a collaboration between the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, Tarama municipality, Okinawa International University, and Leiden University.