The Dutch East India Company, a political example?
While leafing through my collection of South African stamps, I was struck by the series issued on March 14, 1952, by the South African PTT. A series of five stamps dedicated to the VOC. That reminded me of one of the many statements made by our Prime Minister some time ago. An example for 'us'!
The series was published because it was then 300 years since the first Dutch settlement on Cape of Good Hope was established. That was done by Jan Anthoniszoon van Riebeeck, born on April 21, 1619 in Culemborg.
He held a number of posts abroad from 1639, first in Batavia, the present-day Jakarta, later in Japan and Vietnam (Tonkin). But because he had engaged in private trade, which was strictly prohibited by the VOC was forbidden, he was called back.
In 1651, he was commissioned to travel to the southernmost point of Africa with three ships—the Reijger, the Drommedaris, and the Goede Hoop—to establish a refreshment station there for passing VOC ships. He surveyed the coast and decided to drop anchor in Table Bay and establish the post there. In addition to the Netherlands, which issued a series of stamps featuring the portrait of Jan van Riebeeck, the South African Post Office also issued a stamp with a portrait of his first wife, Marie de la Quellerie, the daughter of a Rotterdam minister, born on October 28, 1629. She married Jan van Riebeeck, who was then 10 years older, on March 28, 1649. She was one of the first Huguenots to settle at the Cape of Good Hope, with her husband.
On behalf of the VOC, he planted the Company's flag on April 6, 1652, and founded Fort Duinhoop, the first Dutch colony at the Cape.
With this, an important base was established for the VOC fleet in trade between Asia and Europe.
The VOC held the monopoly on trade with Asia and was even more powerful than the British East India Company which was founded on December 31, 1600, by order of Queen Elizabeth I. The VOC was founded on March 20, 1602, so there was much rivalry. That was the reason for the founding of the VOC: the pooling of forces instead of mutual competition among the Dutch cities. The goal was to make substantial profits on trade with India, Ceylon, the East Indies, China, Korea, and Japan. A large merchant fleet of more than 1.700 ships was built, with the Oostenburgh shipyard in Amsterdam as the most important. A detail from the print can be seen on the Dutch postage stamp from 1990.
For South Africa, the founding of Fort Duinhoop the establishment of the later Republic of South Africa. It was not only the 1952 series that paid attention to this. Two stamps from that series were overprinted with an overprint commemorating a stamp exhibition in KaapstadThe imprints are SATISE and SADIPU, meaning South African Tercentenary International Exhibition and the Afrikaans version SA Internasionale Posseël-Uitstalling. What became of the VOC? On March 17, 1798, the VOC was dissolved, and on December 31, 1799, the death knell was sounded. Why? Due to general decline, enormous complacency on the part of those in power, corruption, the growth of major European powers leading to increased competition, and the loss of the profitable opium trade to the British East India Company. The VOC concept? How can that be reconciled? 
Time repeats itself, over and over again.
He who does not know the past will not understand the present; the whole world knows us thanks to those steadfast guys. Sweethearts, fortunately not, that wasn't work for wimps; we really should show a bit more respect for those sailors of yesteryear. More than for those modern-day profiteers, right!!!!
That VOC mentality of our Prime Minister is certainly very recognizable when I read the last paragraph. General decline, enormous complacency on the part of those in power, corruption, and the growth of major European powers leading to increased competition... The loss of KLM to the French, the sale of ABN Amro, etc., etc. The VOC ideology is alive and well, and the disintegration of the Netherlands is in full swing. The death knell is sounding!
How delightfully simplistic we are – Dutch and world history explained on DWDD.
Which major European powers?
England was never Europe, France was at war with us, and the connection with the East was severed. The English were not affected by this, however, as they maintained a continuous chain of posts between Istanbul and Singhapura.
Italy and Germany were not yet unitary states, and Portugal and Spain concentrated on the West.
Has stamp collecting taught you nothing about historical geography?
It is a good thing Neelie Smit wasn't around during the time of the VOC, otherwise she would have already been handing out fines for cartel formation and labeling the VOC an Association of Unfair Competition.
Credit where credit is due, Cees has introduced another interesting topic. And this proves once again that there is virtually no subject imaginable that cannot be found and discussed in philately. The VOC is not missing from my collection about Leiden either. Leiden was connected to the VOC in various ways and on different levels:
– there was a formal link because Leiden held a directorship in the VOC chamber of Amsterdam;
– the trade with Asia offered work to Leiden residents who might otherwise have fallen into impoverishment;
– for the Leiden textile factories (Leiden = cloth city), the Company was a customer of great significance in the 18th century.
Oh my goodness, and then they say stamp people are boring. I'm cracking up at all these discussions; it's fantastic, keep it up. Maybe we'll end up on the world map as collectors after all, and make CNN. Keep commenting, people.
Over there in Leiden, they worry about sheets… Here in the Southern Netherlands, the largest ships in the world come (and came) to bob past. The VOC is still alive and kicking. They could learn a thing or two from that in the disaster city… those Zeelanders roam the world’s oceans. When the Flying “Dutchman” (was a Zeelander) passes by, even the biggest sea dog starts to shiver… 😉
I have to write something here too, right?!?
'Our Prime Minister' - I am actually less proud of the current one, but I can agree with the rest of this post.
I ended up on this site through word of mouth, and my attention was drawn by the somewhat provocative remark about our Prime Minister and his stance on the VOC.
Far too many people know too little about their history, especially when it comes to the largest organizations of the past: the VOC.
Do you know what is so unfortunate? That only the negative aspects of the VOC are highlighted. You don't hear a soul talking about all the other successes:
– Employment in the then poor Netherlands
– Economic prosperity
– Cultural knowledge of the whole world
– A head start in knowledge of herbs and medicines
– Establishing a global network
– The wealth and prosperity of the present-day Netherlands.
For the 17th century, the VOC was of an exceptionally high standard when it came to organization, courage, willpower, and national interest.
Many matters within the overseas colonies were of a despicable nature, but this detracts in NO WAY from the fundamental principle for which the VOC was founded: building a trading empire in an unknown, distant world in the interest of the country. And that is what our Prime Minister means. It is about willpower, perseverance, and the mentality to build a strong Netherlands together. And unfortunately, that is sorely lacking in too many Dutch people.
Unfortunately, I couldn't put it into fewer words…
@Corleen. Nice addition. At least it shows the positive side as well, and with that, some new insights. Thank you!
I have been living in various foreign countries for 50 years.
I found this magazine by chance. It's amazing. Stamps are the best guide to our history. I still don't understand how our small nation was a world power for more than 350 years. What a tribe, coming down the Rhine on trees!
Take care
Bernhard