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Dutch East India Company (VOC) Shares

Type Object Region Netherlands Time 1602–1799

In 1602 the Dutch United East India Company (VOC) was chartered by the States-General and issued transferable share certificates to the public, formi…

Timeline

  1. 1602The Hague/Amsterdam · Dutch RepublicThe VOC received a 21-year monopoly charter; six chambers (Kamers) issued registered or bearer shares to citizens, with fixed capital and dividends per share, establishing the joint-stock company system.
  2. 1609–1610Amsterdam Exchange · AmsterdamShares could be publicly quoted and traded on the exchange, with early practices of short selling and options trading, offering liquidity far greater than traditional joint-venture models.
  3. 1611–1620Amsterdam · Dutch RepublicAfter the new exchange building opened, VOC shares became one of the most actively traded instruments; dividend distributions were tied to Asian trade profits, attracting domestic and foreign investors to the secondary market.

Sources