Open a company in the Netherlands (Holland). Authorized capital and shares

Despite the fact that the Netherlands is a completely onshore jurisdiction, local companies are often used in various offshore structures. Along with the UK, the Netherlands is considered the main channel for moving funds to other jurisdictions (often offshore), thanks to favorable tax laws. The Netherlands does not tax dividends, royalties and interest payments, making it a particularly popular jurisdiction for setting up holding companies. We offer you the service of setting up a BV company in the Netherlands remotely.

The Netherlands is a country that is better known to many as Holland. They say that in Russia they began to call this country like that with the light hand of Peter I, who during his visits to Europe for some time lived in the province of North Holland, adopting various kinds of knowledge from local residents.

Today, the Netherlands is a European state with an excellent reputation, a strategically important logistics hub, and a popular jurisdiction for business registration. Despite the fact that the tax policy of the Netherlands has international organizations questions arise from time to time, this does not prevent the state from successfully attracting entrepreneurs from all over the world.

Why is it advantageous to register a company in the Netherlands?

A company in the Netherlands is often used as a tool to optimize the international tax burden, to preserve financial assets or to make foreign investments. Undoubtedly, this jurisdiction has a number of unique characteristics and advantages that attract foreign investors.

The Netherlands is:

• politically and financially stable state with AAA rating;
• comfortable and favorable tax climate for holdings, as well as licensed and financial structures;
• no tax on dividends, royalties and interest payments within the EU;
• subject to certain criteria - no taxation of the income of subsidiaries;
• a state that is one of the ten leading economies and largest investors in the world;
• unique opportunities to protect assets (since the Soviet times, Russia has signed an investment protection agreement with the Netherlands, which protects the owner from illegal seizure of property);
• separating the concepts of legal and economic beneficial ownership;
• a large number of agreements on avoidance of double taxation with other countries (more than 90).

Dutch Tax Benefits

In terms of taxation, the Netherlands has large quantity benefits. First of all, this is the absence of outgoing tax when paying royalties and interest. Income that a local holding company receives from capital gains or dividends may also be exempt from corporation tax. Income from products of intellectual activity is taxed at a rate of 5%.

In the Netherlands, as in all EU countries, there is a parent-subsidiary directive. Thanks to this, the tax on dividends of subsidiaries in the EU can be reduced to 0%.

Since the authorized capital of a company in the Netherlands can be denominated in foreign currency, the tax return can also be made in foreign (functional) currency.

The company's losses can be written off over the next nine years and one year retrospectively.

A holding company in the Netherlands can use fiscal unity and intra-group financing.

When paying VAT on imports, a deferral system can be used.

If an employer in the Netherlands employs a foreign employee, he can pay part of the salary (30%) without tax deductions. Thus, the employee is compensated for “extraterritorial expenses”, for example:

• price difference;
• study visits to the Netherlands;
• trips to your home country;
• language courses both for the employee himself and for his family members who live with him in the Netherlands;
• telephone communications;
• paperwork;
• maintenance of housing in two countries.

To receive this benefit, you must:

• the existence of an employment relationship;
• the employee has specific experience and / or knowledge that is difficult to find in the territory of the Netherlands;
• positive decision of the tax authorities of the Netherlands;
• that during the 24 months preceding the first day of work in the Netherlands, the employee has lived at least 150 km from the border of the Netherlands (exceptions apply) for a consecutive 16 months.

Private limited company (BV) in the Netherlands

BV (Besloten Vennootschap) is one of the most commonly used forms of company registration in the Netherlands. Such a company can be used for both holding and operating activities. BV is actively used in international structures, including for tax optimization.

The founders of a BV in the Netherlands can have any residency. Before registering a BV company, directors and shareholders must obtain a certificate of approval from the Dutch Ministry of Justice. Then the notary performs all the formalities for registering the company. Details of directors and shareholders must be contained in the notarial deed of incorporation of the company.

In 2012, amendments to the legislation were made in the Netherlands, which greatly simplified the process of establishing a company. In particular, the following changes have taken place:

• the minimum authorized capital, which must be paid upon registration of a company, has been reduced to 1 EUR (previously it was 18,000 EUR);
• the authorized capital can be not only in euros, but also in other currencies;
• the requirement to provide a bank statement upon incorporation has been abolished;
• obligatory annual meetings of shareholders were cancelled;
• many procedures have been simplified, including making decisions outside the board of shareholders, holding meetings of shareholders, making decisions on the payment of dividends;
• the issue of non-voting shares and shares without the right to profit is allowed;
• shareholder meetings outside the Netherlands are allowed.

For public companies whose founders plan to go public, the Naamloze Vennootschap (NV) form is more suitable.

Basic requirements for a BV in the Netherlands

Dutch law provides for a number of rules and restrictions regarding Besloten Vennootschap (BV).

Shareholders and directors

The sole shareholder of a BV company can also be its sole director or DGA (directeur-grootaandeelhouder). The DGA must pay himself a salary of 44,000 EUR per year. From January 2017, BV directors and major shareholders who fit the description of a startup can pay themselves a minimum wages(approx. EUR 20,000 in 2016) during the first three years of operation.

If a BV has more than one shareholder, then the company is governed by a Board of Directors. The powers of the Council are spelled out in the memorandum of association of the company. Directors are appointed and dismissed general meeting company shareholders.

Shareholder records are kept in the form of a register of shareholders maintained by the directors. Share certificates are not issued. The share register must be kept at the company's office.

A secretary for a BV in the Netherlands is not required.

If the BV has more than 100 employees or if the capital of the company exceeds EUR 13 million, a Supervisory Board must be formed.

If the BV turnover exceeds EUR 7 million or the balance sheet profit exceeds EUR 35 million, the company is required to be audited by an independent auditor. The company's reports must be published in the Netherlands.

Stock

Issuance allowed for BV in the Netherlands various kinds shares, for example: registered, non-voting, as well as shares that do not provide for the right to profit.

At the request of the shareholder, the shares can be freely transferred if it is stipulated in the memorandum of association of the company.

The BV must also have a physical address in the Netherlands.

Procedure for setting up a private limited company (BV) in the Netherlands remotely

The procedure for establishing a BV in the Netherlands consists of several steps:

1. You decide on the need for this step and contact our specialists for professional help by e-mail: [email protected] .

In accordance with Dutch law, the beneficiaries of the company will also need to fill out special forms and provide the following information about themselves:

• First Name Last Name;
• Place and country of birth;
• Date of Birth;
• Nationality;
• Place (address) of permanent residence;
• Phone and fax;
• Profession;
• Family status;
• Participation in the company.

In order to pass the KYC check, information about the client's activities is also required:

• Detailed history of the overall structure of the client;
• The main activity of the general structure;
• Detailed description of the source of wealth;
• Purpose of establishing a company in the Netherlands;
• Planned activities of the company in the Netherlands;
• What is the reason for registering a company in the Netherlands and not in another jurisdiction;
• Data on directors and their powers;
• Diagram of the structure of the organization.

1. You pay for professional assistance in registering a BV company in the Netherlands. Available methods payment: bank transaction, payment card, WebMoney, PayPal, Western Union. The cost of services will be from 2500 EUR to 3,500 EUR (without VAT), depending on the complexity of the structure. The price includes the procedure for preparing documents and registration actions, including notary services.

Possible additional costs:

• legal address – 1,250 EUR per year (+VAT);
• director ( individual) – 3,400 EUR per year (+VAT);
• director ( entity) – 2,400 EUR per year (+VAT).

Attention : By law, the board of directors must consist of at least 50% residents of the Netherlands.

Services such as secretarial support, legal services, taxes and accounting are provided separately, packages are discussed individually.

1. You prepare the documents required to set up a BV in the Netherlands.

Required documents:

1. Notarized copy of the beneficiary's passport;
2. Confirmation of the address of registration of the beneficiary (certificate from the bank / utility bill);
3. CV of the beneficiary with a detailed description of the source of wealth;
4. It is highly desirable to have the opinion of tax consultants on the business structure planned for creation with a description of the project, the goals of creation and the choice of jurisdiction (why the Netherlands).

Personal presence is not required, the founders issue a power of attorney to a notary for the purpose of performing registration actions.

Form of power of attorney approved, provided by a local notary. The power of attorney must be apostilled at the place of residence of the founders.

Ready to start the process of setting up a BV in the Netherlands? Contact us today by email: inf [email protected] .

The site browser studied the history of the Dutch East India Company, which long time almost monopoly controlled the spice trade and made several major geographical discoveries. Its value, according to Yahoo Finance, during its heyday was estimated at $ 7.4 trillion in terms of modern money.

Powerful modern conglomerates like Apple or Google, which exceed the budget of the largest states in the world, are nevertheless significantly inferior in terms of financial indicators their historical counterparts. A striking example is the Dutch East India Company, which was founded in the early 17th century and became one of the world's dominant powers.

East India Company headquarters in Amsterdam

History of the Dutch East India Company

The beginning of perhaps the largest company in the history of mankind was laid in the era of great geographical discoveries. From school, everyone remembers Columbus, Vasco Da Gama and other discoverers. Many of them came from Portugal and Spain, and soon these countries were able to trade in spices, which became a real gold mine.

After the coronation of Philip II, Spain was significantly strengthened: in 1556, the so-called 17 provinces were annexed to it - in other words, the Netherlands. In 1581, the territory of Portugal also passed to Spain. Such an expansion became possible due to the death of the Portuguese monarch and the political activity of his relative Philip II.

In the Netherlands, however, it was restless, and uprisings rose against the power of Philip. In the end, after the defeat of the Invincible Armada and several setbacks on land, the Dutch provinces were divided into two parts. The northern one became independent, and Protestantism was mainly professed in it, the southern one remained with Spain - mainly due to the military forces of this country, as well as the Catholic religion. This division had an important consequence in the future: the United Provinces lost some bonuses in the form of spices and other goods that the Spaniards imported from exotic countries.

At a certain point, Philip II simply forbade Dutch ships from entering Spanish and Portuguese ports. Those left with two options: to accept or go for tricks. The Dutch did not want to lose spices, and among them there were daredevils who decided to find out from the Spaniards trade routes to sources of spices, mainly to the Indonesian islands.

These brave men were the brothers Cornelis and Frederick de Houtman. The latter, either on their own initiative or by order of the government, went to Portugal in 1592, where they tried to talk the sailors in the port of Lisbon. The mission was secret, and for such inquiries they could easily be accused of espionage, which soon happened.

The brothers ended up in prison, where they met with pirates and rebels. The latter did not burn with love for Spain and its king, and therefore shared some information. When the government ransomed the de Houtmans, they already knew enough to start the journey. At home, they met with their compatriot, the merchant Linschoten. Having compared all the available information and received government approval, the brothers began to prepare for the expedition, the end point of which was to be the Spice Islands - the Moluccas.

To organize everything at the highest level, the trading company "De Veera" was founded. The brothers received at their disposal four ships and a crew of 250 people. The journey was not easy, along with the sailors, merchants also went on an expedition, who sought to quickly reach the end point to the detriment of the team.

The Dutch were able to reach the island of Sumatra, which was an important goal of the trip, only 17 months later. By the time they returned to their homeland, about 87 people and only two ships remained from the team. The expedition was still considered successful and became the starting point for the Dutch East India Company.

Company creation

The founding of this first joint-stock company was preceded by competition among Dutch merchants, which broke out after the success of the de Houtmans. The country's government quickly realized that their compatriots compete not only with each other, but also with the same Spaniards, and this has a bad effect on profits. The state decided to merge these companies into one with a capital of 6.5 million florins. It became known as the Dutch East India Company.

Formally, its founder was the politician Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. Everything was formalized in 1602. The company leased all trading posts and possessions in the East Indies for a period of 21 years. Among them, for example, a representative office in Ternat, which at that time was the largest producer of cloves. They also took over trading posts in Ache, Bantam, on the islands of Banda, Johor and Patami. The East India Company extended its lease from the state 12 times. Despite a seemingly formidable presence, the Dutch were vastly outnumbered by Spanish-Portuguese influence in the region.

The Dutch East India Company differed significantly from all the then, and modern similar institutions. The state allowed her to negotiate and make alliances with local rulers, mint her own coin, build fortifications, and wage wars. And although the East India Company was subordinate to the States General, its power in the colonies was practically unlimited. In fact, she independently conducted foreign trade in the East and influenced the positions of the United Provinces in the international arena.

Security was another important issue. Local rulers, pirates and tribes of natives are just a small list of unpredictable partners that civilized Europeans had to deal with. It is worth noting that the de Houtman brothers, who later went on similar expeditions several more times, eventually ran into the natives and were captured by them. Cornelius, according to some sources, was eaten, but Frederick was more fortunate: he was later ransomed.

To protect employees, the East India Company created its own navy. Partially, it included several state-owned warships with experienced battle captains. Initially, the military forces were hired in Europe and from there arrived to the East, but later most of the company’s detachments began to be formed from local population. The professionalism of the mercenaries suffered from this, of course.

As already mentioned, the East India Company was the first joint-stock company in the world. It was led by a council of 17 merchants: eight from Amsterdam, four from the Zeeland region, and one each from Middelburg, Delft, Horn, Rotterdam and Enkhuizen. The company's official charter stated that anyone could be a shareholder. Shares could be inherited.

It should be noted that such a division of shareholders by region was not at all a tribute to equality, but ideal scheme control: eight merchants from Amsterdam had real power. Over time, most of the shares ended up in the hands of hereditary holders, and the East India Company became a family business.

The representatives of the company had several approaches to entering the Eastern markets. The most popular were the conquest of territory, competition with other countries due to more favorable conditions and the establishment of a monopoly on trade. Some sources claim that monopoly was the preferred option. However, some historians tend to believe that the company initially sought to complete submission territories and the creation of a colonial empire.

The value of the company's shares grew at an enormous rate and in two years grew by 110%. The business turned out to be very profitable, although at first it was not easy to work: difficulties with local residents and the war with Spain affected. At the same time, the Dutch still managed to gain a foothold in the territory of modern Indonesia. In 1602, the port of Bantam, where their trading post was located, could be attributed to the important possessions of the East India Company. Military fleets were sent here - both state and company-owned. Through joint efforts and alliances with local rulers, the Dutch significantly advanced the position of Portugal.

In those days, the successes of the East India Company were associated with admirals van der Hagen and van Warwijk. The latter set himself the goal of entering the Chinese market and for this purpose tried to get recommendations from the Siamese king in 1604, but he did not succeed. He went to China himself, but he was not allowed into the ports. Then van Warwijk went to Vietnam and plundered several fleets of the Portuguese, who were carrying goods from China. According to calculations, the benefit of this expedition was 167%.

Van der Hagen did not lag behind his colleague and continued to fight against the Portuguese, using his connections with local tribes. He not only shelled forts and plundered fleets, but also raised riots at the expense of the local population. Thanks to him, the island of Ambon and the Banda archipelago were subjugated. It cannot be said that all these territories became part of the company - rather, treaties beneficial to the Dutch were imposed on them at gunpoint. For example, the inhabitants of Ambon really recognized themselves as vassals of the Dutch, and the rulers of the Banda Islands signed agreements on comprehensive assistance and assistance.

In the end, in 1609, when a twelve-year peace was made between Holland and Spain, the East India Company had part of the Moluccas at its disposal, although the Spanish and Portuguese dominated. Together with influence on the above territories, the Dutch received the right to monopoly trade with them, which means nutmeg and cloves.

In 1610, the Dutch brought Ceylon tea to Europe, and in the future, Amsterdam will be one of the main centers for trade in this product. Later, the Dutch will take Ceylon from the Portuguese, using the Kandyan kingdom for this. Although the Dutch themselves brought tea from here to Europe, they will not move in this direction and will mainly grow coffee, cocoa, cinnamon, pepper and cardamom on the island. Ceylon tea began to be grown commercially here only after the capture by the British in 1796.

The East India Company, despite its growth and influence in the East Indies, was going through a leadership crisis. The Council of Seventeen was too out of touch with the territory, and local government needed to be strengthened. For this, the rank of governor-general was established, and Peter Both was the first to hold this position. Arriving at the head office in Bantam, he was struck by the company's problems in the region. First of all, they were associated with the leaders of individual trading posts, who, having gained power, began to have fun, drink and mock the local population.

The bot received a huge number of complaints and began to toughly clean up the mess, starting with personnel changes. He soon took notice of 26-year-old Jan Pieterszoon Kuhn. He has already managed to visit this region as part of one of the expeditions and made an impressive career in the East India Company. Kun started as a junior merchant, but gradually rose to senior management.

Speaking six languages ​​as well as local dialects, able to think big and know how to capitalize, Kun soon became right hand Botha. The Governor General granted young man the position of chief accountant of the company, making him, in fact, his deputy. In the future, it is Kun who will create the basis for the further total growth of the East India Company.

Having received authority, Kun suggested an unexpected move to the leadership - to create a Dutch colony on the island of Java, at the center of the crossing of sea routes.

Kuhn understood that while the Dutch and Spaniards were fighting for the Spice Islands, they completely overlooked the other riches of the region, which means that they can be obtained before the competition.

Kuhn has not yet received permission to implement, but has begun to lay the foundation. Upon learning that one of the company's employees had acquired land in Java to create a trading post, Kun took advantage of its location near the river and built a shipyard nearby. After that, he tried to get permission from the Aboriginal authorities to build a fort, but this failed. Then Kun built protective structures, which were officially considered outbuildings. So, without the knowledge of the leadership, the island of Java began to prepare for becoming a center of trade.

Both ran a company in the region with mixed success, trying to establish business relations with local authorities and tribes through diplomacy. The population regularly staged uprisings, which, combined with the constant struggle between the local princes and the undeclared war with Spain, did not allow calling this region calm.

The boat under these conditions achieved some results, capturing the Spanish fort Mariko on the island of Tidore. However, under him, relations with pangeran finally deteriorated. (ruler - ed.) Bangtan, which led to a real consideration of Kuhn's plan to transfer the capital of possessions to Java, namely Jakarta. The process was delayed due to the ongoing struggle with Spain and Portugal. The Council of Seventeen lost patience and replaced the Governor General, appointing Gerard Reinst to the position. Reinst arrived in the region in March 1615.

Like his predecessor, Reinst immediately found himself between several fires: he had to fight with the Spanish-Portuguese fleets, uprisings of the local population and new competitors from the French and British East India companies. He won several victories, including suppressing a rebellion on the island of Pulo-Ai during a long blockade. However, he did not have time to expand his activities, since he died in December 1615.

While the Council of Seventeen was considering a new appointment, Kun assumed full power and immediately took advantage of it. His goal was to prevent the increase in the influence of the British and French, and he used all possible measures to this end, from intimidation to arrests. The French ships that arrived in the region had the Dutch as part of their crews. Kun, using his influence with the local authorities, arrested them all. The French, having lost a significant part of the teams, were forced to get rid of several ships in order to return to their homeland.

Once in Europe in 1617, they hurried to file a complaint with the Dutch court and seemed to have won the case: they were paid significant compensation. However, for the Council of Seventeen, such a fine was a small price to pay for the costs.

The leaders of the East India Company were struck by Kuhn's independence and ability to act in difficult conditions. A decision was soon made to appoint Jan Kun as governor-general. True, Laurens Real managed to work in front of him in this position, but he did not achieve much success and resigned himself.

The hard strategy of Jan Kuhn. The erection of Batavia

Yang Kun continued to fight the expansion of the British and French. In addition, he again had problems with the pangeran Bantam, who fancied himself an independent ruler. The situation was aggravated by the policy of arrests of foreign ships and Dutch crew members, which Kuhn continued to actively use. In the end, they detained two French ships. The admiral managed to escape and hid with the ruler of Bantam. Kun demanded to extradite the Frenchman and was refused. Moreover, the pangeran generally forbade the Dutch to export spices from the island.

Realizing that in such a situation it is necessary to act decisively, Kun ordered to prepare for the blockade of Bantam and close the local trading post. Apparently, the governor-general was going to move his headquarters to Java. Having learned about the preparations, the pangeran went to a truce. This did not stop Kun - he was preparing to suppress unrest in the region by force.

The inhabitants of Molucca were the first to appreciate the new policy of the East India Company: cloves were grown and sold here, and the Dutch owned it almost exclusively. Kun, who knew that this spice was taken out by ships not only of European countries, but also of neighboring countries, bringing clothes and other supplies in return, forbade them to enter this port. Other high-ranking members of the East India Company tried to protest such decisions, but were not successful.

In the war, the East India Company lost millions of guilders and merchant ships. The defeat cost the Dutch a monopoly in maritime trade. For some time, attempts continued to restore the former splendor of the Dutch East India Company, but no one was able to realize these plans. In 1796, the pitiful remnants of the once richest company were nationalized, which left a colossal debt of 100 million florins.

The Netherlands or Holland is a small state in Europe. The area does not exceed 41.5 thousand square meters. km. Less than 16 million people live in the country. Official language- Dutch. Currency - EURO.

Official political system - a constitutional monarchy. The constitution is based on

The main types of state income: tourism, engineering, agricultural products, the banking sector with significant capital, the ability to borrow at low interest rates. Sources of cash receipts are not controlled, with rare exceptions.

Holland has a well-established legislation and political system, there are no revolutions, and there is minimal risk of a change in the economic direction of development. This makes the Netherlands one of the most attractive.

UraFinance offers everyone who wants to register or buy a company to do business at the international level with the payment of minimal taxes and fees.

Offshore in the Netherlands: main factors

UraFinance draws attention to the following key points to consider when opening a representative office in the country:

• only 2 types of organizations are legally allowed: a company with limited liability(BV) and limited liability partnership (CV).

Private Limited Company

You can register a company with BV type if the following conditions are met:

• the minimum amount of the authorized capital is EUR 0.01; - the company must have an office in the country for which registration was made;
• the issue of shares is allowed: ordinary, preferred, having and not having the right to vote;
• the sole founder or shareholder can decide to establish a company. Director - must be a resident of any of the countries that are members of the EU. You can appoint nominee directors and shareholders. Signed with nominee director general power of attorney regulating the list of permitted actions with the property and shares of the owner of the company;
• the place of holding meetings of shareholders is not regulated by law. There is no need to provide reporting regarding company decisions, hiring of directors, development or reduction of activities.

Buying a company in the Netherlands: Income tax

Offshore companies in the Netherlands usually pay up to 25% of their profits to the budget. If the amount of income does not exceed EUR 200,000, the tax rate is reduced to 20%. The VAT rate is 21%. You can get a tax exemption in the following situations:

• the company owns at least 5% of another company, provided that it pays at least 10% of tax on the profit received at the place of registration;
• investments in other enterprises do not exceed 50% of all assets of a company registered as an offshore company.

The use of the Dutch tax system is possible only if the director of the company is a resident or citizen of this country.

Business owners who are residents of the European Union do not pay tax on dividends. All others are required to pay 15% of the total amount of dividends received to the country's budget. The rate can only be reduced if there is an agreement between the Netherlands and the country in which the owner of the shares is a resident to avoid double taxation. Double taxation agreements have been signed with most countries of the world.

In 1996, a similar agreement was signed between the Government of Russia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Features of accounting and document management

UraFinance specialists are required to provide clients who decide to open a company in the Netherlands with the following information:

• information about business owners is not provided to third parties under any circumstances. Anyone can get information about the director of the company. The data is in the public domain. The bank may provide information by court order if there are good reasons to believe that the company is organized to finance criminal activities, arms or drugs. Otherwise, the sources of cash receipts and their volumes are not controlled;
• accounting and reporting is mandatory for all forms of ownership and activities;
• documents can be stored in any country of the world at the discretion of the owner.

Registering a company in the Netherlands: Information about legislation

Registering a company in the Netherlands with UraFinance

UraFinance invites business owners to take advantage of all the advantages of working in the best European markets, to gain access to the capital of the largest banks in the world. To do this, just contact the specialists of our company and register an offshore company in the Netherlands. You can legally reduce your tax burden.

Contact UraFinance and in 1-2 weeks you will receive a package of documents allowing you to work in a country with the best legislation for business. This will allow you to legally keep capital in European banks, make payments with minimal delays, use the best loan products and programs.

Dutch East India Company(dutch. Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC, literally: United East India Company) is a Dutch trading company. Founded in 1602, existed until 1798. Carried out trade (including tea, copper, silver, textiles, cotton, silk, ceramics, spices and opium) with Japan, China, Ceylon, Indonesia; monopolized trade with these countries of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

history of the company

In 1594, a group of Dutch merchants founded the Van Werre company to trade with the countries of the East without intermediaries. It was followed by the creation of other similar trading Dutch companies. In order to exclude mutual competition between them and joint opposition to Portuguese, Spanish and English trade, these trading companies were merged into a single East India Company in 1602 by the decision of the States General of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. Start-up capital the company was about 6.5 million florins.

The East India Company founded a whole network of trading posts (including those on the Cape of Good Hope, Persia, Bengal, Malacca (now part of Malaysia), China, Siam (now Thailand), Formosa (now Taiwan). -Indian Company, stretched from the Cape of Good Hope in the west to the Strait of Magellan in the east.

Perhaps the most remarkable figure in the history of the company was Jan Pieterszon Kuhn, who moved its headquarters to the city he founded Batavia (now Jakarta) on the island of Java, which became the capital of the Dutch colonial possessions in Asia. The former Dutch possessions in this region are still sometimes called the Dutch Indies (Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), Dutch possessions on the Hindustan Peninsula, Ceylon, Malacca, the Cape region in South Africa).

The company had six offices (chambers) in the port cities of the metropolis (in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Zeeland, Delft and Horn-Enkhuizen) and was managed by a board of 17 merchants (directors).

When the Netherlands emerged as the foremost maritime and colonial power in Europe, the East India Company became a state within a state, possessing not only a monopoly in foreign trade, but also the rights to conclude international trade agreements, navigation, duty-free transportation of goods to the metropolis, the creation of trading posts, fortified coastal fortresses, conducting legal proceedings, maintaining the armed forces and the navy.

The Dutch East India Company was, in fact, the first joint-stock company in the world, as it was the first time that it offered its founders to share responsibility (and, accordingly, take a share in the distribution of profits) for the fate of sailboats setting off in search of new lands, treasures and spices, which were then valued in Europe worth its weight in gold. This was due to the fact that, according to statistics, only one ship out of three returned home, while the rest became victims of force majeure (pirates, storms, etc.). At the same time, a successful flight brought huge profits. Thus, the percentage of the shareholder's possible profit directly depended only on the amount of his contribution, the measure of which was the world's first shares. Each share was initially worth 3 guilders, which at the time could buy three cartloads of wheat. A total of 2,153 shares were issued and sold, total amount 6.5 million guilders. As early as 1604, shares were worth 110% of their original price. In 1610, they cost 130% of the original price, when Chinese tea was first brought to Europe, purchased from the Chinese in the port of Batavia (Java Island). Thereafter, the share price grew by 10% per year. During the first 120 years of the company's history, its share price rose to 1260%, but then there was a decline.

The company was in constant conflict with the British Empire; experienced financial difficulties after the defeat of Holland in the war with this country in 1780-1784, and collapsed as a result of these difficulties (the total debt of the company by 1796 was over 100 million florins). The bankrupt East India Company was disbanded in 1798, and its property became the property of the young Batavian Republic.

• In 1697, the burgomaster of Amsterdam and part-time director of the Dutch East India Company, Nikolaas Witsen, organized work internship for representatives of the Russian state who were part of the "Great Embassy", among which, as you know, was the young tsar - Peter I, who after his " working practice» at the shipyards of Amsterdam, a personal friend of the director of the Dutch East India Company.
• Shortly before the closure of the company, the surgeon Isaac Titsing, who represented her interests, enlisted the support of her undertakings from the Japanese shogun and the Chinese emperor Aisingyoro Hongli (the motto of the board is "Qianlong"), whom he visited in Beijing's Yuanmingyuan Palace.
• The activities of Dutch merchants in Indonesia are reflected in many of the writings of Joseph Conrad.
• According to members of the Enoch club, expressed in 2002 in Geneva at the congress of the association of owners of private companies that have existed for at least 200 years, the Dutch East India Company could survive to this day if its members were interested not only in trade, but also in production.
• In September 2010, in the archives of the city of Hoorn, a student at Utrecht University discovered the world's oldest stock, which was issued by the Dutch East India Company on September 9, 1606.

VOC in culture

• In 2007, a film was released in Russian distribution called "Lords of the Storm" based on the real events of the journey of Captain Willem Bonteke, described in his ship's log, which made him very famous.

see also

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Links

• (nid.). Retrieved May 28, 2010. .
• - the world's oldest stock (Voc 1606)
• Maxim Tokarev. The fate of the dividend. The world's first joint-stock company is 400 years old.

An excerpt characterizing the Dutch East India Company

My strange "walks" were now repeated every night. I didn’t go to bed anymore, but I was looking forward to when, finally, everyone in the house would fall asleep and everything around would plunge into deep night silence, so that I could (without fear of being “caught”) once again completely plunge into that unusual and mysterious , the "other" world, in which I have almost got used to being. I was waiting for the appearance of my new “friends” and each time a newly given amazing miracle. And although I never knew which of them would come, I always knew that they would certainly come ... And whoever of them came, he would again give me another fabulous moment, which I will keep in my memory for a very long time and carefully , as in a closed magic chest, the keys to which only I had ...
But one day no one showed up. It was a very dark moonless night. I stood with my forehead pressed against the cold window glass and without looking away she looked at the garden covered with a shimmering snow shroud, trying to pain in her eyes to look out for something moving and familiar, feeling deeply lonely and even a little “treacherously” abandoned ... It was very sad and bitter, and I wanted to cry. I knew that I was losing something incredibly important and dear to me. And no matter how hard I tried to prove to myself that everything was fine and that they were just “late”, in the depths of my soul I was very afraid that maybe they would never come again ... It was insulting and painful and I didn’t want to believe it . My childish heart did not want to put up with such a “terrible” loss and did not want to admit that this would still have to happen someday, only I didn’t know when yet. And I wildly wanted to push this ill-fated moment as far as possible!
Suddenly, something outside the window really began to change and flicker familiarly! At first I thought that one of my “friends” was finally appearing, but instead of the familiar luminous entities, I saw a strange “crystal” tunnel that started right at my window and went somewhere into the distance. Naturally, my first impulse was to rush there without hesitation for a long time ... But then it suddenly seemed a little strange that I did not feel that usual warmth and calmness that accompanied each appearance of my "star" friends.
As soon as I thought about it, the "crystal" tunnel began to change and darken before my eyes, turning into a strange, very dark "pipe" with long moving tentacles inside. And painful, unpleasant pressure squeezed his head, very quickly growing into a wild exploding pain, threatening to crush all the brains in general. Then for the first time I really felt how cruel and strong a headache can be (which in the future, only for completely different reasons, will poison my life for nineteen years). I got really scared. There was no one who could help me. The whole house was already asleep. But even if I didn’t sleep, I still wouldn’t be able to explain to anyone what happened here ...
Then, being already almost in a real panic, I remembered a creature with an amazingly beautiful crown and mentally called him for help. It would seem - stupid? .. But the headache instantly left, giving way to wild delight, as I suddenly again saw the already familiar, sparkling city and my wonderful, extraordinary friends. For some reason, they all smiled very warmly, as if with approval, radiating a surprisingly bright green light around their sparkling bodies. As it turned out later, without suspecting it, I passed the first test in my life that evening, which, however, will be very, very much later ... But that was then, and it was only the beginning ...
I was just a child, and I could not then suspect that in those “other”, incredibly beautiful and “pure” worlds, there could also be bad, or, as we call them, “black” entities. Which, like a fish on a hook, catch such “green”, just hatched chicks (which I was at that time) and happily devour their raging vitality or simply connect them to some kind of their “black” system forever. And, unfortunately, there are few such "chicks" who could someday be freed if they did not know how, and did not have the potential necessary for this.
Therefore, I could not even imagine how lucky I was then that at the right moment I somehow managed to see something completely different from what someone was trying to inspire me very hard ... (I think that without realizing it, I managed to scan the existing situation then). And if it were not for my amazing “crowned” friend, whom I, wildly frightened, called in a very timely manner, no one knows in which of the distant “black” worlds my essence would live now, if it would still be alive at all ... That is why there was so much joyful warmth and light in the hearts of my "star" friends. And I think that this, unfortunately, was also one of the main reasons for our farewell. They thought I was ready to think for myself. Even though I didn't think so...

Two female entities approached me and, as it were, hugged me from both sides, although physically I did not feel it at all. We found ourselves inside an unusual building that looked like a huge pyramid, all the walls of which were completely covered with strange unfamiliar writings. Although, looking closer, I realized that I had already seen the same letters on the very first day of our meeting. We were standing in the center of the pyramid, when suddenly I felt a strange "electric current" coming from both female entities right into me. The feeling was so strong that I was rocking from side to side and it seemed that something was starting to grow inside...
Then a male entity with a sparkling crown stretched out its hands in my direction and… the world changed… A blindingly bright crystal tornado swirled around me, which completely “isolated” me from my friends who were there. When the tornado broke up, there was a strange black naked Earth around me ... I was in an incomprehensible place and, again, I was completely alone. But somehow it wasn't scary. I felt that they were trying to show me something and that I should definitely try to see it. Suddenly there was a very eerie feeling of absolute emptiness. There was nothing - no light, no sounds, no support underfoot. I hung "nowhere" ...