Born 1570
Died seventeenth century

In 1595 the Dutch sent out their first great trading expedition to the East Indies under the command of Cornelis de Houtman (see entry). The expedition was made up of four ships that were built in Amsterdam. The fourth and smallest was a three-masted “yacht” of 50 tons named the Duifken (Little Dove) that was destined to play a major role in history. The ships left Amsterdam in 1595 and returned on August 14, 1597. The voyage was such a commercial success for the Dutch merchants that they sent out a second fleet in 1598.

Dutch East India Company formed

The Dutch continued to enjoy a profitable sea trade and in 1601 formed the Dutch East India Company. The new company sponsored two expeditions before 1605. The Duifken sailed on both of these voyages; in a battle with the Portuguese off Bantam, on the west coast of Java...