In the early 18th century, Batavia, present-day Jakarta, was a key city in the Dutch East Indies, attracting various ethnic groups, including the Chinese, who played a significant role in trade and commerce. Tensions between the Dutch colonists and the Chinese population escalated due to competition over trade control and growing resentment from native Javanese people, who viewed the Chinese as economic rivals and perceived them as preferentially treated by the Dutch. The situation worsened as local uprisings and revolts against colonial rule prompted the colonial authorities to seek a scapegoat, ultimately targeting the Chinese community.

On this date, a coordinated effort by Dutch colonists and Javanese natives led to a violent and systematic massacre. The initial conflicts erupted following an incident that spurred larger riots, prompting the Dutch to impose harsh retaliatory measures. Armed forces from both sides engaged in brutal violence against the Chinese, resulting in significant casualties. Estimates of the death toll vary, but it is believed that at least 10,000 ethnic Chinese were killed, with many more suffering injuries or fleeing the violence.

The aftermath of the massacre saw a shift in the demographic and economic landscape of Batavia. Many Chinese residents who survived left the city, leading to a decline in their influence in local commerce. The Dutch government reinforced their colonial policies and conducted further punitive actions against the surviving Chinese community, leading to changes in trade practices and greater restrictions on Chinese merchants. This event also marked a significant turning point in the relationship between the different ethnic groups within Batavia, with long-lasting consequences for colonial governance and ethnic dynamics.