The "Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie" (VOC; Dutch United East India Company) was founded on March 20, 1602. This was the result of a decision by the "Staten Generaal" (the equivalent of a parliament in those days). It marked the start of the worldwide orientation of the Netherlands, and of a period of great economic and cultural growth.
In 2002 this will be 400 years ago. This calls for a celebration! Initiatives for activities have come from various sectors of society. To effectively organize this event, the foundation "Celebration 400 years VOC" was established.
The objective of this foundation is to encourage, co-ordinate and support activities that will be organized for the purpose of this celebration. Most of these activities will take place in the first half of 2002 and will be organized from among the sectors of government, business, education, science and culture.
Main activities will include: a festive memorial ceremony in the "Ridderzaal" (the "knights'hall," in the parliament buildings in the Hague) and festivities in the six "VOC-cities" Amsterdam, Delft, Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Middelburg and Rotterdam as well as in Texel.
In addition there will be various activities in the areas of education, science and culture, including a combined exhibition in the Netherlands Maritime Museum and the Maritime Museum in Rotterdam.
The importance of the VOC lies not only in the past, but also in the present and in the future. Therefore, in this celebration ample attention will be paid to the importance of a worldwide orientation, entrepreneurship, craftsmanship and innovation for the future of the Netherlands
What will be celebrated? In 2002 we will celebrate the fact that the "Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie" (VOC; Dutch United East India Company) was founded 400 years ago. On March 20, 1602, the "Staten Generaal" gave a licence to the VOC, declaring its foundation.
In the preceding months, the government's councillor, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, undertook important preparatory work. He succeeded in convincing the various competing East India companies to co-operate and form a union. This successful alliance was expressed in the letter V (for United -- "Vereenigd" in Dutch) before the O and C, and this is what we are going to celebrate. It marked the start of a period of great economic and cultural growth in the Netherlands.
Of course, this was not accomplished in one day. It was the result of certain political and economic developments in the preceding years. This will be commemorated as well. In the year 1595 the "First Sailing" to Asia took place, inspired by the "Reysbeschrift" by Jan Huygen van Linschoten. In 1596 his complete "Itinerario" was published; a very interesting travel report!
Focus will also be on the developments that followed immediately upon the establishment of the VOC, such as the management by the "Lords XVII" (governors of the VOC), the network, the cultural influences, and particularly the social changes in the Netherlands caused by this huge enterprise. Therefore, the emphasis in "Celebration 400 Years VOC" will be on the period from 1595 until approximately 1620.
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