1602–1799 (196 years of existence)
The VOC controlled eight foreign governments: Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, Java, Malacca (Malaysia), Macassar (on Celebes Island next to Borneo), Ternate, Banda, Amboyna (the last three west of Nieu-Guinee and north of Australia).
There were VOC factories in Ceylon, Bengale (northeast India), Coromandal coast (eastern coast of India), Surat (northwest India), Thailand and the Persian Gulf.
The VOC became the first stock exchange in the world by trading in its own shares. They opened up access to a wide public. The shareholder received a receipt and sales of shares were effected by an entry in the share register. The dividend was on average 18% per year and was initially paid in kind.
The VOC dissolved in 1799 as a result of mismanagement and debts of 110 million guilders which were taken on by the Dutch Government.
