On 20th March 1602: Dutch East India Company was established

On 20^th March 1602: Dutch East India Company was established

Subject: History

Section: Modern

Concept:

The Dutch Commercial enterprise led the Dutch to undertake voyages to the East. Cornelis de Houtman was the first Dutchman to reach Sumatra and Bantam in 1596. In 1602, the States General of the Netherlands amalgamated many trading companies into the East India Company of the Netherlands. This company was also empowered to carry on war, to conclude treaties, to take possession of territory and to erect fortresses.

Dutch Settlements

After their arrival in India, the Dutch founded their first factory in Masulipatnam (in Andhra) in 1605. They went on to establish trading centres in different parts of India and thus became a threat to the Portuguese. They captured Nagapal near Madras (Chennai) from the Portuguese and made it the main stronghold in South India.

The Dutch established factories on the Coromand coast, in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal and Bihar. In 16 they opened a factory in Pulicat, north of Madras. Their oath principal factories in India were at Surat (1616), Bimlipata (1641), Karaikal (1645), Chinsura (1653), Baranag Kasimbazar (near Murshidabad), Balasore, Patna, Nagapat (1658) and Cochin (1663). Participating in the redistribution or carrying trade, they took to the islands of the Far E various articles and merchandise from India. They carried indigo manufactured in the Yamuna valley and Central Indi textiles and silk from Bengal, Gujarat and the Coromandesaltpetre from Bihar and opium and rice from the Gang valley.