Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

Dutch West India Company

Noun

/dʌtʃ wɛst ˈɪndiə kəmˈpæni/

Definition

A chartered company of Dutch merchants, formed in 1621 to develop trade between the Netherlands and the Americas, primarily focusing on the Caribbean, West Africa, and North America.

Examples

The Dutch West India Company was instrumental in establishing settlements in the Caribbean.
Historically, the Dutch West India Company heavily engaged in the transatlantic slave trade.
The company’s activities contributed to the rise of Dutch colonial power in the 17th century.

Meaning

The Dutch West India Company was established to promote Dutch interests and trade, particularly in the lucrative sugar and slave trade, and played a significant role in the colonization of parts of the Americas.