Dutch First Voyage to the East Indies

Timeline

1. 1595Texel · NetherlandsMerchants including the Amsterdam Far East Chamber funded a four-ship fleet, appointed Cornelis de Houtman as commander, and set sail from the Netherlands with Portuguese charts and spy intelligence, aiming to sail directly to Bantam and the spice-producing regions to bypass the Lisbon-Goa monopoly route.
2. 1595–1596Sunda Strait · JavaAfter resupplying in Madagascar, the fleet crossed the Indian Ocean, rounded the Cape route and reached the entrance to the Sunda Strait. Crew losses to scurvy and storms were heavy, but the voyage proved Dutch ships could reach East Indies waters independently.
3. 1597Amsterdam · North HollandOnly two ships returned to the Netherlands with a small amount of pepper and trade intelligence. Though commercial profits were limited, the voyage proved an eastward direct route feasible, spurring more merchants to fund subsequent expeditions and challenge the Portuguese spice monopoly.