On the 20st of March in the year 1602, the V.O.C. (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) was erected. It was the demand of Johan van Oldebarnevelt (government counselor), and Prince Maurits van Oranje (Admiral-General) of The Netherlands to make the Dutch trading cities co-operate for the Republic of The Netherlands on foreign soil. The V.O.C. was the first Dutch "Compagnie" with "anonymous" stockholders.

The first charter was given to the cities of Amsterdam, Middelburg, Rotterdam, Delft, Hoorn, and Enkhuizen. The first subscribed capital of the "Compagnie" was 6.424.588 Dutch Florins. The charter to the V.O.C. implied that the "Compagnie" had the right to negotiate and close deals with rulers, within the chartered regions. Also they were given permission to build fortresses, wage wars, and install local governors. With this charter, the V.O.C. was given rights that would normally be reserved for sovereign states only.

During approximately 2 centuries, the charter was extended several times, until 1795. In that year the V.O.C. was nationalized, because it had run into financially "stormy weather". This started during the "Fourth English War" (1780-1784), when no rich laden ships returned to the Dutch Republic for several years.

In 1799 the last charter expired and the possessions of the V.O.C. fall due to the Republic.