The first day of the 19th century confirmed the bankruptcy of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). The VOC had paid an 18 per cent dividend for almost 200 years. Now, beset by rampant corruption and a loss of confidence, it was nationalised by the Dutch government. The Dutch East Indies, from 1 January 1800, became a Dutch colony. Sir Stamford Raffles The Napoleonic Wars were consuming Europe. Holland became a French possession. The Dutch fully expected that the East Indies would be invad…
