# Dutch East India Company — WHE Definition Discussion (1-22368) **URL:** \ **Category:** WHE Articles\ **Created:** [October 31, 2023, 10:01am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/dutch-east-india-company-whe-definition-discussion-1-22368/17863 "2023-10-31T10:01:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kim.martins](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/kim.martins/32/331_2.png) [@kim.martins](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/kim.martins)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 10:01am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/dutch-east-india-company-whe-definition-discussion-1-22368/17863/1 "2023-10-31T10:01:52Z")
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was formed in 1602 by the Staten-Generaal (States General) of the then Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. The company was granted a 21-year charter with rights to trade exclusively in Asia and to buy valuable spices, such as nutmeg, mace, and cloves. Spices were in high demand in Europe to flavour food dishes and for use in medicines, and the company eventually gained a monopoly on spices. * * * _This is a companion discussion topic for the original definition at [https://www.worldhistory.org/Dutch\_East\_India\_Company/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dutch_East_India_Company/)._ * * * **Join the Conversation** - Which part did you find most interesting, and why? - Anything here you'd push back on? - Is there a related topic you'd like to see covered? Is there anything you'd like to ask about this definition? Ask away — and if you spot something that should be covered, that's useful to know too. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/system/32/30_2.png) [@system](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/dutch-east-india-company-whe-definition-discussion-1-22368/17863/2 "2026-08-01T01:23:17Z")