History - VOC
The VOC, in full Vereenigde Oost-Indische
Compagnie (United East Indian Company), was a trade-union that
monopolized trade of the Republic of the United Netherlands with overseas
territories in Asia and in particular with Indonesia in the 17th and
18th century.
 foundation
At
the end of the 16th century merchants began to send ships to
Asia
on a regular basis for commercial purposes. The government
wanted to improve cooperation between merchants and to ensure
profits
and continuance on this endeavor. That is why the VOC was
founded on March 20, 1602, and thanks to active governmental
support and capital she grew to be a very successful
trade organisation.
The
VOC consisted of 6 chambers residing in Amsterdam, Middelburg,
Maasmond (Rotterdam and Delft), West-Friesland (Hoorn
and Enkhuizen). These chambers equipped the ships.
The
daily management was formed by 17 members, who were
called
the Heren XVII (the seventeen lords)
In
Asia, a great empire was founded. As a single Western power,the
VOC even erected a trade center in Japan, on the isle of Decima. |
trade wars [view  popup]
The monopoly of the Dutch VOC was, of course, disputed by other nations,
by England in particular, and gave cause for a number of trade wars.
The four Anglo-Dutch wars in the 17th and 18th century caused several
important sea battles in the struggles to consolidate these commercial
interests.
Among the products traded by the VOC were for instance pepper,
cinnamon, nutmeg, coffee, tea, mace, cloves, cotton, silk and porcelain.
anecdote
 The
fact that the high lords of the VOC in Holland didn't always possessed
the proper know-how is illustrated by the following anecdote. As they
discovered that the spice mace was much more profitable than
nutmeg, the order was given to burn down all nutmeg-trees on
Banda and exclusively plant mace-trees. When the gentlemen were told
that both spices grew on the same tree they hastily withdrew the order
...
distances [view popup]
Because of the vast distances (a message from the East took 8 months
to arrive at the VOC in Holland) a permanent government was established
in Batavia, now called Djakarta on the island of Java in
Indonesia. This overseas government was harsh and not always fair
to the people of Indonesia.
Delfshaven
The VOC also played an important role for the city of Rotterdam. In
her position as one of the six
chambers, not only did Rotterdam receive her share of the VOC-profits,
but the city was also sure of extensive employment in the harbours
and the dockyards where many a VOC-ship was built.
Delfshaven, as residence of the dockyard and warehouse of the Chamber
Delft, also took part in the success of the VOC.
The former VOC-building at the Achterhaven is a still reminder of
the famous past of the VOC.
And it was right across this point, on the Waaldijk, on the part
called Oosterhoofd, that more than two-hundred years ago ship of
the line DELFT was build by order of the admiralty.
fall of the VOC
Until the middle of the 18th century the company was very successful,
but after that results kept getting poorer. Causes were the loss
of the monopoly and the ineradicable corruption within the VOC.
In 1796 debts had climbed to 125 million guilders and because of this
the VOC was terminated on March 17, 1798. Her possessions and
debts were taken over by the State. |
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