Slavery and the VOC

Slavery is the forced, exploitative ownership of people, denying their freedom and basic rights for labor or other purposes. The Dutch East India Company (VOC), established in 1602, was a powerful trading organization that operated across Asia. While primarily focused on trade, the VOC was involved in the abduction and forced labor of enslaved people, especially in their colonies like Indonesia. This connection to slavery reflects how colonial companies used enslaved labor to boost profits and expand their economic and geopolitical influence during the 17th and 18th centuries.