The Dutch East India Company ( Dutch : Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie , VOC , `` United East India Company '' ) was a chartered company established in 1602 , when the States General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia .
The Dutch East India Company ( Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC in old Dutch ) , started in 1602 , when the Netherlands gave it a 21-year monopoly to trade in Asia .