New Netherland Company () was a

chartered company A chartered company is an association with investors or shareholders that is incorporated and granted rights (often exclusive rights) by royal charter (or similar instrument of government) for the purpose of trade, exploration, and/or coloni ...

of Dutch

merchant A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...

s. Following

Henry Hudson Henry Hudson ( 1565 – disappeared 23 June 1611) was an English sea explorer and navigator during the early 17th century, best known for his explorations of present-day Canada and parts of the northeastern United States. In 1607 and 16 ...

’s exploration of the east coast of North America on behalf of the

Dutch East India Company The United East India Company ( nl, Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the VOC) was a chartered company established on the 20th March 1602 by the States General of the Netherlands amalgamating existing companies into the first joint-stock ...

in 1609, several Dutch merchants sent ships to trade with the Native Americans (mainly fur) and to search for the

Northwest Passage The Northwest Passage (NWP) is the sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The eastern route along the ...

. In order to maximize their profits these merchants decided to form the New Netherland Company and on October 11, 1614 they successfully petitioned the Estates-General for a charter of trading privileges. The charter granted a monopoly of trade between the 40th and 45th parallel for a period of three years, starting on January 1, 1615. In 1618 the Company's charter wasn't renewed because negotiations for the formation of the

Dutch West India Company The Dutch West India Company ( nl, Geoctrooieerde Westindische Compagnie, ''WIC'' or ''GWC''; ; en, Chartered West India Company) was a chartered company of Dutch merchants as well as foreign investors. Among its founders was Willem Usselincx ...

were well advanced. After 1618 New Netherland was open to all traders, but the majority of trade was still conducted by the founders of the New Netherland Company until the establishment of the Dutch West India Company in 1621.

Founders

*Jonas Witsen (Amsterdam) *Simon Morissen (Amsterdam) *Hans Hongers (Amsterdam) *Paulus Pelgrom (Amsterdam) * Lambrecht van Tweenhuyzen (Amsterdam) *Arnolt van Lybergen (Amsterdam) *Wessel Schenck (Amsterdam) * Hans Claessen (Amsterdam) *Berent Sweertssen (Amsterdam) *Peter Clementsen Brouwer (Hoorn) *John Clementsen Kies (Hoorn) *Cornelis Volckertsen (Hoorn)

References

{{Authority control + Chartered companies Fur trade 1615 establishments in the Dutch Republic Companies established in 1615 1618 disestablishments in the Dutch Republic Companies of the Dutch Republic

Founders

See also

References