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The Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC) was a successful Dutch trading company established in 1602.
Biggest trade company in the world
In the 17th and 18th century the company held a monopoly on trade with Asia, primarily bringing spices from the East. For a long time the VOC was the biggest trade company in the world doing business in Asia and it played a vital role in the Netherlands becoming one of the major colonial empires. The VOC was the world’s first multinational, operating a fleet of 1500 ships. They were actually the first company ever to issue shares in order to raise funds for their journeys to the East.