The North East:

There were frequent attacks by the British and the Dutch after Philip II of Spain inherited the crown of Portugal in 1580.

The Dutch even set up the Dutch West India Company around Recife and Olinda, in the north east, in the 1630's.

In 1640, the successful Portuguese revolt against Spanish overlordship, returned the sovereignty of Brazil to Portugal.

The Dutch renounced their claims to Brazilian territory, in 1661, after uprisings backed by Portugal made it no longer profitable to remain there.