The Netherlands East India Company (VOC)

The Netherlands East India Company, known as the VOC (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie), was a powerful trading company established in 1602. It was the world's first multinational corporation and was given a monopoly on Dutch trade in Asia. The VOC played a key role in the spice trade, establishing trading posts and colonies in places like Indonesia. It was known for its innovative business practices and financing methods. The company had its own ships, acted as a government in some regions, and contributed to the rise of the Dutch Republic's wealth and influence during the Golden Age. The VOC dissolved in 1799.