Dutch United East India Company (VOC)

Timeline

1. 1628–1630Batavia · JavaAfter founding the city of Batavia on Jakarta Bay, the VOC gradually gained control of northern Java and the Moluccan spice-producing regions, forming a colonial administrative–trade system centered on the governor-general's office and laying the groundwork for global expansion in the 1630s.
2. 1631–1640Taiwan (Formosa) · TaiwanIn the 1630s the VOC maintained its Taiwan foothold, linking China, Japan, and Southeast Asian re-export trade; meanwhile, via the Cape route and the Indian Ocean network, it shipped pepper, cloves, porcelain, and other goods back to Europe, becoming one of the largest commercial organizations in the world at the time.
3. 1638–1642Strait of Malacca · Strait of MalaccaTrade conflicts between England and the Netherlands escalated in East Asia and the Indian Ocean; the VOC defended its monopoly with armed merchantmen and a fortress system, capturing Malacca in 1641 and further consolidating control over Southeast Asian sea lanes, while facing challenges from rivals such as the English East India Company.