Dutch Discoveries

Discussing the Impact of the Dutch East India Company From the 1600s to the 1800s, the Dutch East India Company, also referred to as the VOC, shaped the course of what later became known as the Netherlands. The VOC was one of the world's first transnational corporations, and its actions and decisions in Asia had enormous implications for what the Dutch eventually became. In this article, we'll explore the history of the Dutch East India Company and how it has shaped modern Dutch society. The Early Years of the Dutch East India Company In the mid-1600s, the Dutch Republic was emerging as an important European power. After the Eighty Years' War, the Dutch had broken away from Spanish rule and were now looking to colonize and thrive on the world stage. A group of Amsterdam merchants and financiers banded together to form the Dutch East India Company in 1602. This new organization, backed by the Dutch government, was formed to establish trading posts in the Indies and exploit...