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Compagnie van De Moucheron

The Compagnie van De Moucheron (Company of De Moucheron) was a pre-company and precursor of the Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie (VOC, commonly called the "Dutch East India Company"), from the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands (commonly called the "Dutch Republic"). It was founded by Balthazar de Moucheron, a ship owner from Antwerp in the Southern Netherlands. After the fall of Antwerp he moved his business to Zeeland.2 It was founded by Balthasar de Moucheron.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1597Founded1

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De terugkomst in Amsterdam van de tweede expeditie naar Oost-Indië, Hendrik Cornelisz Vroom, 1599, Rijksmuseum SK-A-2858
Photo: Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

The Compagnie van De Moucheron (Company of De Moucheron) was a pre-company and precursor of the Verenigde Oost Indische Compagnie (VOC, commonly called the "Dutch East India Company"), from the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands (commonly called the "Dutch Republic"). It was founded by Balthazar de Moucheron, a ship owner from Antwerp in the Southern Netherlands. After the fall of Antwerp he moved his business to Zeeland. The fleet of the Compagnie van De Moucheron was made up of three ships, 'Ram', 'Schaap' (Sheep) and the pinasse 'Lam' (Lamb) and was headed by Joris van Spilbergen. Its fleet left on 5 May 1601 and returned to the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands in 1604.2

The story

Founded by Balthasar de Moucheron in 1597.1

A voorcompagnie (pre-company) refers to one of the Dutch companies that traded with Asia between 1594 and 1602, before the smaller companies merged to form the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The pre-companies were financed by merchants from the Northern Netherlands and rich immigrants from the Southern Netherlands. Because of the deadly competition, the government forced the smaller trading companies to unite and form the (United) East India Company, that on its turn received exclusive rights for the trade with Asia for the following 21 years.

From Wikipedia’s article on Compagnie van De Moucheron, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Leadership

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Acquisitions

  1. Succeeded by Dutch East India Company1

Timeline

  1. 1597Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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