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The Dutch East India Company: A History From Beginning to End
The Dutch East India Company * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. Once valued at close to seven trillion dollars by today’s standards, the Dutch East India Company, formed in 1602, became the world’s first multinational corporation. In the nearly 200-year reign of their empire at sea, the Dutch East India Company amassed unfathomable fortunes, laid the foundation of the modern globalized world, and built monopolies that controlled the economy of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Europe and the East Indies. Inside you will read about... ✓ The Superstructure of the VOC ✓ The Growth of VOC’s Colonies and Trade Routes ✓ The Golden Age ✓ Reorientation and the Expansion Age ✓ The Great Wars and Conquests of the VOC ✓ Decline and Fall And much more! The rich history of the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie commonly referred to as the VOC, and its titanic exploits are as astonishing as the twelve labors of Hercules. Uncover the organization that in no small part built the world we live in from the ground up. Series The East India Companies Book 2
102 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2017
263 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 8, 2022
1602 saw the advent of the United East India Trading Company, more commonly referred to as the VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie), sponsored by the Dutch government and seen as the world's first 'Joint-Stock Company' and its interest being multi-national - the birth of globalisation.
A trading empire born of the sea and not a conglomerate tied to the land; and hailed as a world first: the stock exchange, with limited liability, public share ownership, (with a minimum buy-in affordable by many traders and so not limited to the wealthy) and employing persons at all levels, from all points of the compass; and able to generate funds unequalled by its main competitors, the Portuguese and 'The English East India Company'.
No less mercenary than their rivals and as merciless when challenged the VOC's profits far outweighed the taking of 'The Other Four': the English, the French, the Spanish and the Portuguese.
This is a most remarkable story.
A trading empire born of the sea and not a conglomerate tied to the land; and hailed as a world first: the stock exchange, with limited liability, public share ownership, (with a minimum buy-in affordable by many traders and so not limited to the wealthy) and employing persons at all levels, from all points of the compass; and able to generate funds unequalled by its main competitors, the Portuguese and 'The English East India Company'.
No less mercenary than their rivals and as merciless when challenged the VOC's profits far outweighed the taking of 'The Other Four': the English, the French, the Spanish and the Portuguese.
This is a most remarkable story.
July 11, 2018
I very randomly decided to read this book because I needed something short to read on the train while commuting and I'm glad I did so. I can't say it's my favorite Hourly History book because this isn't the kind of history that interests me the most or that I know a lot of but I did think it was a decent read and some aspects were very fascinating to read about.
Before reading this book I knew absolutely nothing about The Dutch East India Company. I've always liked the age of exploration but I've always been told about countries like England, Spain and Portugal and not about Holland at all, which is really odd considering I live in Belgium. You'd think I'd have heard more about all that.
I was very surprised to learn that when The Dutch East India Company was at it's high point in its time it was more successful than companies like Apple in this time and day. If that doesn't blow your mind, I don't know what will. So the little facts like that were interesting to learn and read about. The chapter of The Golden Age was my probably my favorite.
Overall, The Dutch East India Company: A History From Beginning to End by Hourly History was a short read that I easily read in 30-ish minutes. I think people who are particularly interested in this topic will enjoy it a bit more but I still thought it was a fascinating topic and good read.
Before reading this book I knew absolutely nothing about The Dutch East India Company. I've always liked the age of exploration but I've always been told about countries like England, Spain and Portugal and not about Holland at all, which is really odd considering I live in Belgium. You'd think I'd have heard more about all that.
I was very surprised to learn that when The Dutch East India Company was at it's high point in its time it was more successful than companies like Apple in this time and day. If that doesn't blow your mind, I don't know what will. So the little facts like that were interesting to learn and read about. The chapter of The Golden Age was my probably my favorite.
Overall, The Dutch East India Company: A History From Beginning to End by Hourly History was a short read that I easily read in 30-ish minutes. I think people who are particularly interested in this topic will enjoy it a bit more but I still thought it was a fascinating topic and good read.
January 22, 2018
A concise and fascinating history of the evolution and decay of Dutch East India Company narrated in a style similar to that of Charles River Editors. Worth a read to understand certain little known aspects of a Company that existed around the same time as East India Company.
November 7, 2017
Throughout the history of the tiny European country of The Netherlands, a struggle against water has been central to their establishment, development, and success. Being low-lying and at the end of numerous European, Holland in inundated with rivers and their tributaries. The Dutch became master dike builders, not only protecting them from the inland waterways but also in reclaiming new lands from the sea. It is only logical that these industrious people would feel comfortable in and on water. Their low-draft ships were ideal for travel and exploration close to shore.
After the discovery of the New World in 1492, the floodgates opened for European exploration and colonization. Spain, France, England, and Portugal sent ships out and establishing new trade routes, returning with vast quantities of foreign spices, riches, and products. Holland was a late-comer to this party of tradesmen and as the fifth spoke in the wheel, or thumb of a hand, made it possible to form a fist strong enough to establish a foothold and play with the big boys.
The Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie aka V.O.C.) was established in 1602, giving the ability and rights to member traders to establish, defend, maintain, and exploit colonies in Indonesia and surrounding islands. That their main competition was Portuguese, an ally to Holland’s archenemy Spain was just icing on what would be a very lucrative cake.
In order to understand the future, you must understand the past. It is true that history repeats itself and evidences of this surround us everywhere, every day. The history of the V.O.C. is very interesting to explore. It proved that even a small land, with big ambitions and a tenacious drive, could compete with the largest of the world’s powers. It also shows that there is another, very ugly side of this coin. The laws of nature and men are unforgiving. What goes up must come down and the bigger they are the harder they fall. At the end of the 18th Century, the V.O.C. was just a shadow of what it once was. After Napoleon’s final defeat, it was no more than a memory. This short history answers questions and raises even more. This is the perfect formula to inspire further study.
After the discovery of the New World in 1492, the floodgates opened for European exploration and colonization. Spain, France, England, and Portugal sent ships out and establishing new trade routes, returning with vast quantities of foreign spices, riches, and products. Holland was a late-comer to this party of tradesmen and as the fifth spoke in the wheel, or thumb of a hand, made it possible to form a fist strong enough to establish a foothold and play with the big boys.
The Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie aka V.O.C.) was established in 1602, giving the ability and rights to member traders to establish, defend, maintain, and exploit colonies in Indonesia and surrounding islands. That their main competition was Portuguese, an ally to Holland’s archenemy Spain was just icing on what would be a very lucrative cake.
In order to understand the future, you must understand the past. It is true that history repeats itself and evidences of this surround us everywhere, every day. The history of the V.O.C. is very interesting to explore. It proved that even a small land, with big ambitions and a tenacious drive, could compete with the largest of the world’s powers. It also shows that there is another, very ugly side of this coin. The laws of nature and men are unforgiving. What goes up must come down and the bigger they are the harder they fall. At the end of the 18th Century, the V.O.C. was just a shadow of what it once was. After Napoleon’s final defeat, it was no more than a memory. This short history answers questions and raises even more. This is the perfect formula to inspire further study.
January 20, 2021
I read this book because it was related to my I&S work and it was telling how dutch empire manage to gained independence, trade route through out the Asia (especially the Indonesia) and how they got rich from new trade route Portugal discovered, and it showed the end of the colonization
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2022
This book is part of the Hourly history collection (https://hourlyhistory.com).
These books are mostly about historical events or historical persons and you can read it within an hour.
This one is about Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the Dutch East India Company, or more commonly known as the VOC, the first global multinational company.
This is my assessment of the book The Dutch East India Company, by Hourly history according to my 8 criteria:
1. Related to practice - 4 stars
2. It prevails important - 5 stars
3. I agree with the read - 5 stars
4. not difficult to read (as for non-English native) - 5 stars
5. Too long (more than 500 pages) - short and concise (150-200 pages) - 5 stars
6. Boring - every sentence is interesting - 4 stars
7. Learning opportunity - 5 stars
8. Dry and uninspired style of writing - Smooth style with humouristic and fun parts - 3 stars
Total 4.5 stars
At the heart of this entire age where European trading companies sailed into the deep unknown of the ocean in search of riches, one company would cement its legacy into the annals of history. One company would stand out as the greatest company to have ever been formed. That company was the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the Dutch East India Company, or more commonly known as the VOC.
In 1602, the formation of the United East India Trading Company or the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) became sponsored by the Dutch government. The charter gave the company the right to a monopoly over the trade in Asia, including the right to build forts, field armies, and forge treaties with rulers in the east.
The VOC is largely considered as being the first company to leverage the power of a joint-stock company with its interests being multi-national.
In previous attempts, companies had formed joint-stock exchanges by way of banding smaller interests into a larger interest, largely by groups of wealthy merchants or aristocrats.
The VOC sought to eliminate these issues and create a joint-stock company that had greater access to capital combined with a smoother process of liquidating shares. Thus the Dutch championed what would be another contested first, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.
Its competitors primarily relied on funding from their heads of state and the interests of wealthy patrons, which limited their abilities. The VOC saw that by allowing public access to the purchasing of shares, they were able to increase their money raised and thus procure larger, more advanced fleets, armies, and forts to protect their interests abroad.
At their pinnacle, the VOC had in their employ over 25,000 workers in the east alone, with over 11,000 en route at any given time.
At its pinnacle around the year 1669, the VOC controlled nearly 150 merchant ships, 40 warships, 50,000 employees, and a 10,000-strong private army. When adjusted for inflation their value estimates to have ranged as high as seven trillion dollars, nearly ten times the value of Apple Inc. in 2014.
This period is considered to run from approximately 1630 to 1670, a period where the VOC brought in an annual profit of 2.1 million guilders per year. When adjusted for inflation in today's modern economy that would make their annual profits somewhere around 70 billion US
Competition is always a good thing. It forces us to do our best. A monopoly renders people complacent and satisfied with mediocrity.” —Nancy Pearcey
Look to the past and remember no empire rises that sooner or later won't fall.” —Al Stewart
While the actual tonnage of ships coming into port increased by 125%, the profits did not follow suit. In fact, despite the VOC's best efforts, the cost of doing business would lead to the decline and eventual fall of the VOC in 1799.
While other companies would ship directly from China and other Asian nations to Europe, the VOC continued to funnel everything through Batavia. This greatly increased the time it took for a shipment to arrive in Europe. With their shift from relying solely on the spice trade and diversifying their interests, this cost became keenly felt in the realm of the tea trade. This commodity was already saturated by the EIC, and other enterprises like the Ostend Company shipped tea directly to Europe without a stop. This method ensured a fresher product in a shorter amount of time. Over time, it was ...more
The third aspect attributed to the VOC's decline was that of corruption. With a scale and scope as large as the VOC, corruption was able to fester and infect the organization from top to bottom.
Salaries were often low, and because of the high risk to the employees involved in the company's dealings, even the lowest-ranking employees in the chain became involved in embezzlement of one kind or another.
The fourth aspect stems particularly from the nature of the business itself. The voyage from Europe to the East Indies was rife with danger. The high risks of the business affected everyone equally; either by way of wars, disease, bad weather, bad luck, or piracy, the death and mortality rates of the employees of the VOC was exorbitantly high. When coupled with the low wages and benefits offered to incoming employees, there was little incentive to join a company.
The fifth most widely known issue was the dividend policy that the VOC maintained throughout its time.
without proper management created by the aforementioned issues, the company was paying out more than it was earning. This led to the company taking on debt to continue its trading interests in Asia. Where they had once operated free and clear due to unparalleled profits, they now devolved into debt that bankrupted the company by 1780.
Historians have argued that no other company in history have had such an impact on the world. The VOC introduced Europe to Africa and Asia, and vice versa.
The joint-stock company, the stock exchange, corporate governance, shareholder activism, and dividends all became the legacy of the VOC.
While the modern corporate world likes to think it is more civilized than the plundering armies of their ancestors, it is easy to see the influence of the VOC beneath every corporate takeover and bid for monopoly today. They may not have armies that subdue populations anymore, but behind every corporate giant is brutality and vicious ambition; a legacy of the greatest enterprise ever to exist—the Dutch East India Company.
These books are mostly about historical events or historical persons and you can read it within an hour.
This one is about Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the Dutch East India Company, or more commonly known as the VOC, the first global multinational company.
This is my assessment of the book The Dutch East India Company, by Hourly history according to my 8 criteria:
1. Related to practice - 4 stars
2. It prevails important - 5 stars
3. I agree with the read - 5 stars
4. not difficult to read (as for non-English native) - 5 stars
5. Too long (more than 500 pages) - short and concise (150-200 pages) - 5 stars
6. Boring - every sentence is interesting - 4 stars
7. Learning opportunity - 5 stars
8. Dry and uninspired style of writing - Smooth style with humouristic and fun parts - 3 stars
Total 4.5 stars
At the heart of this entire age where European trading companies sailed into the deep unknown of the ocean in search of riches, one company would cement its legacy into the annals of history. One company would stand out as the greatest company to have ever been formed. That company was the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the Dutch East India Company, or more commonly known as the VOC.
In 1602, the formation of the United East India Trading Company or the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) became sponsored by the Dutch government. The charter gave the company the right to a monopoly over the trade in Asia, including the right to build forts, field armies, and forge treaties with rulers in the east.
The VOC is largely considered as being the first company to leverage the power of a joint-stock company with its interests being multi-national.
In previous attempts, companies had formed joint-stock exchanges by way of banding smaller interests into a larger interest, largely by groups of wealthy merchants or aristocrats.
The VOC sought to eliminate these issues and create a joint-stock company that had greater access to capital combined with a smoother process of liquidating shares. Thus the Dutch championed what would be another contested first, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.
Its competitors primarily relied on funding from their heads of state and the interests of wealthy patrons, which limited their abilities. The VOC saw that by allowing public access to the purchasing of shares, they were able to increase their money raised and thus procure larger, more advanced fleets, armies, and forts to protect their interests abroad.
At their pinnacle, the VOC had in their employ over 25,000 workers in the east alone, with over 11,000 en route at any given time.
At its pinnacle around the year 1669, the VOC controlled nearly 150 merchant ships, 40 warships, 50,000 employees, and a 10,000-strong private army. When adjusted for inflation their value estimates to have ranged as high as seven trillion dollars, nearly ten times the value of Apple Inc. in 2014.
This period is considered to run from approximately 1630 to 1670, a period where the VOC brought in an annual profit of 2.1 million guilders per year. When adjusted for inflation in today's modern economy that would make their annual profits somewhere around 70 billion US
Competition is always a good thing. It forces us to do our best. A monopoly renders people complacent and satisfied with mediocrity.” —Nancy Pearcey
Look to the past and remember no empire rises that sooner or later won't fall.” —Al Stewart
While the actual tonnage of ships coming into port increased by 125%, the profits did not follow suit. In fact, despite the VOC's best efforts, the cost of doing business would lead to the decline and eventual fall of the VOC in 1799.
While other companies would ship directly from China and other Asian nations to Europe, the VOC continued to funnel everything through Batavia. This greatly increased the time it took for a shipment to arrive in Europe. With their shift from relying solely on the spice trade and diversifying their interests, this cost became keenly felt in the realm of the tea trade. This commodity was already saturated by the EIC, and other enterprises like the Ostend Company shipped tea directly to Europe without a stop. This method ensured a fresher product in a shorter amount of time. Over time, it was ...more
The third aspect attributed to the VOC's decline was that of corruption. With a scale and scope as large as the VOC, corruption was able to fester and infect the organization from top to bottom.
Salaries were often low, and because of the high risk to the employees involved in the company's dealings, even the lowest-ranking employees in the chain became involved in embezzlement of one kind or another.
The fourth aspect stems particularly from the nature of the business itself. The voyage from Europe to the East Indies was rife with danger. The high risks of the business affected everyone equally; either by way of wars, disease, bad weather, bad luck, or piracy, the death and mortality rates of the employees of the VOC was exorbitantly high. When coupled with the low wages and benefits offered to incoming employees, there was little incentive to join a company.
The fifth most widely known issue was the dividend policy that the VOC maintained throughout its time.
without proper management created by the aforementioned issues, the company was paying out more than it was earning. This led to the company taking on debt to continue its trading interests in Asia. Where they had once operated free and clear due to unparalleled profits, they now devolved into debt that bankrupted the company by 1780.
Historians have argued that no other company in history have had such an impact on the world. The VOC introduced Europe to Africa and Asia, and vice versa.
The joint-stock company, the stock exchange, corporate governance, shareholder activism, and dividends all became the legacy of the VOC.
While the modern corporate world likes to think it is more civilized than the plundering armies of their ancestors, it is easy to see the influence of the VOC beneath every corporate takeover and bid for monopoly today. They may not have armies that subdue populations anymore, but behind every corporate giant is brutality and vicious ambition; a legacy of the greatest enterprise ever to exist—the Dutch East India Company.
January 1, 2026
Wow, I'm really glad I found this book. It gave me a great arching overview without plunging me in too deep. Armed with this, I am going to branch out into other topics, including the (British) East Indies and the Silk Road.
This book gave me insight into why the Dutch and the Portguese seemed to show up in places like Taiwan and in Japan (ex. Taiwan ancestry that includes Dutch blood). I'm also so interested in how the Dutch played a role in the roots of capitalism, the stock market, etc. I'd love to see a book that talked more about the merchant class of the Netherlands, and why is that the British and the Dutch are Protestants and are such great businessmen. I'd love to see a story of the famous tulip bubble and also to hear stories of how the rising bourgeois middle class interacted with artists. I'm also curious to understand... isn't there some kind of connection with a strong Jewish community that focused on diamonds, etc.? There seems to be a lot that can be explored with this entrance into understanding the Dutch and even to understand how it became seen as such supporters of the International Court of Justice.
Anyway, one possible criticism of this book is that it didn't go so much into detail on the colonial crimes or examples of political meddling in indigenous countries. It may be, however, that this is beyond the scope of this book.
I'm looking forward to delving further into this topic. Thanks for the fascinating introduction.
This book gave me insight into why the Dutch and the Portguese seemed to show up in places like Taiwan and in Japan (ex. Taiwan ancestry that includes Dutch blood). I'm also so interested in how the Dutch played a role in the roots of capitalism, the stock market, etc. I'd love to see a book that talked more about the merchant class of the Netherlands, and why is that the British and the Dutch are Protestants and are such great businessmen. I'd love to see a story of the famous tulip bubble and also to hear stories of how the rising bourgeois middle class interacted with artists. I'm also curious to understand... isn't there some kind of connection with a strong Jewish community that focused on diamonds, etc.? There seems to be a lot that can be explored with this entrance into understanding the Dutch and even to understand how it became seen as such supporters of the International Court of Justice.
Anyway, one possible criticism of this book is that it didn't go so much into detail on the colonial crimes or examples of political meddling in indigenous countries. It may be, however, that this is beyond the scope of this book.
I'm looking forward to delving further into this topic. Thanks for the fascinating introduction.
October 8, 2019
This is a company name I've heard about since elementary school. However, no one really explained who they were or their importance. This book explains the beginning underpinnings, their 200-year reign over trade and their eventual decline. While England, Spain, Portugal, and France were dividing up the New World, the ingenious Dutch decided to take over the seas (trading).
This is a well-written explanation of how Dutch trade created massive wealth in Europe (generally) and the Dutch nation (specifically). It also explains how trade creates wealth the more it is done, for each of the trading partners.
This is a well-written explanation of how Dutch trade created massive wealth in Europe (generally) and the Dutch nation (specifically). It also explains how trade creates wealth the more it is done, for each of the trading partners.
July 23, 2024
I recall reading about the Dutch East India Company in grade school, and later history courses in college. Hence my knowledge was very limited in the impact this company made in the 1600s. Although I did remember from school how the Dutch occupied islands in the Carrabeian such as Suriname, Bonaire, and Aruba and how they established trade routes for spices in the Far East.
I usually read these books while exercising at the gym on a thread mill on my iPhone. A perfect blend in exercising the body and mind at the same time. One should never look down on these short reads.
I usually read these books while exercising at the gym on a thread mill on my iPhone. A perfect blend in exercising the body and mind at the same time. One should never look down on these short reads.
February 4, 2022
The VOC: The Godfathers Of Trade
I really enjoyed this book. I learned some new information that was never even delved into in school. The history and culture that was traded along with mercantile goods and ideas only happen because of the Dutch East India Company. The Wal-Mart of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
I really enjoyed this book. I learned some new information that was never even delved into in school. The history and culture that was traded along with mercantile goods and ideas only happen because of the Dutch East India Company. The Wal-Mart of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
June 19, 2023
Power corrupts
This brief summary of the Dutch East India company is a bit incoherent in telling the history of this powerhouse company over 200 years of business and trade dominance however it certainly is an object lesson in the danger of monopolies and the power they can wield
This brief summary of the Dutch East India company is a bit incoherent in telling the history of this powerhouse company over 200 years of business and trade dominance however it certainly is an object lesson in the danger of monopolies and the power they can wield
January 23, 2024
A very interesting read which details the origins of the VOC and makes the reader comprehend how the company was different from its British or French counterparts.
The Dutch version of colonialism was based solely on the model of streamlining operating costs which ultimately lead to it loosing its immense advantage.
The Dutch version of colonialism was based solely on the model of streamlining operating costs which ultimately lead to it loosing its immense advantage.
September 2, 2019
Greater Than All The Rest
At its peak, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) was more profitable and wealthy than Apple and Amazon combined. This trading behemoth eventually collapsed under its own weight, but dominated commerce for more than a century. A good, interesting read.
At its peak, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) was more profitable and wealthy than Apple and Amazon combined. This trading behemoth eventually collapsed under its own weight, but dominated commerce for more than a century. A good, interesting read.
May 27, 2021
Entertaining book.
This book and others in it's series are a good source of information about numerous events in our past. They are great starting points for those wanting to learn more about history.
This book and others in it's series are a good source of information about numerous events in our past. They are great starting points for those wanting to learn more about history.
October 27, 2021
Interesting history of the Dutch!
Did not realize the Dutch monopolized the world trade as they did in the 1600s. Read a book about the slave trade and they were also instrumental in that. Interesting book.
Did not realize the Dutch monopolized the world trade as they did in the 1600s. Read a book about the slave trade and they were also instrumental in that. Interesting book.
October 18, 2023
I had no idea about the VOC before and found the book very informative. It is a quick read, the language is easy to follow and the transitions from one topic/event to another were smooth. I enjoyed reading and learning from it.
November 29, 2023
Great read on a subject I had barely read about.
I was aware of New Netherlands, New York, and Peter Stuyvesant, as well as Dutch ships during WW2; but the Dutch East India company wasn't a topic usually.
I was aware of New Netherlands, New York, and Peter Stuyvesant, as well as Dutch ships during WW2; but the Dutch East India company wasn't a topic usually.
October 23, 2017
Short but interesting history of the VOC, from inception till dawn. Can be read in less than an hour. Useful for general knowledge.
June 21, 2018
Loved learning about this! On my kindle
January 9, 2019
Too short and mostly factual. Even for a short format it could have been more insightful and fun to read.
December 5, 2021
Very interesting information
November 29, 2022
As with The East India Company, I was unprepared for the short length of the book. Its storyline has whetted my appetite for the East India Company stories.
Read
August 7, 2023Informative and interesting
September 25, 2023
Ok high level view; very superficial but does give you the main timing and key aspects of this monopoly.
December 2, 2023
A brief review of the Dutch East India Company. A good start.
July 13, 2024
concise history
I really enjoyed this concise history of the VOC, having just visited Amsterdam. Its influence on Cape Town was also very interesting.
I really enjoyed this concise history of the VOC, having just visited Amsterdam. Its influence on Cape Town was also very interesting.
March 26, 2025
God innføring i et lite kjent tema, iallfall for min del. Kort og konsist som gir leseren en mulighet til å få en god oversikt til å ev. ta et tematisk dypdykk i materien.
August 29, 2018
This was new history turf for me and it was so fascinating that I am now reading a couple of books that are much more in depth about the political and economic circumstances that brought about The Dutch East India Company and allowed it to flourish as well as eventually die. The economic basics have changed little and amazing to see how long 'crowd mania' and greed have been around. We are not quick learners!
June 13, 2018
Short (44 pages) and succinct, will not be enough on itself but nice for a quick overview. Provides details on the background and the influence of the VOC (even Rembrandt is mentioned), among other facts.
Read
December 24, 2018nothing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews