Netherlands / China: A Dutch Merchant, thought to be Andreas Everardus van Braam Houckgeest, who served in the Dutch East India Company at Canton, 1756-1773. Porcelain figure by Tan Chitqua, Canton, c. 1770

The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was set up in 1602 to gain a foothold in the East Indies (Indonesia) for the Dutch in the lucrative spice trade, which until that point was dominated by the Portuguese.

It was a chartered company granted a monopoly by the Dutch government to carry out colonial activities in Asia, including establishing colonies in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and India.

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Credit:

Pictures From History