Golden age (1600 - 1700)

Although the Dutch were at war with the Spanish, things went very well, economically. Amsterdam was the centre of the financial world in the first half of the 17^th centrury.

1610: The Lords XVII (17) choose Pieter Both as CEO of the world's first sharholder firm: the VOC (united east-indian company).

1610-1611: First payment of dividend of the VOC, 162,5% in total.

1634: start of annual payments of dividend of the VOC.

1637: The "Statenbijbel", the first official bible translated into Dutch, apppears.

1641: The Dutch may found a colony on Decima, off the Japanese coast. Until 1854, they are the only foreigners in contact with the Japanese.

1641: Abel Tasman sails off to discover Tasmania, New Zealand, the Fiji islands and the Bismarck-argipelago.