During the 17th century, Amsterdam experienced what is
considered its Golden Age, during which it became the
wealthiest city in the Western world.
Ships sailed from Amsterdam to the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, North
America, and Africa, as well as present-day Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka,
and Brazil, forming the basis of a worldwide trading network.
Amsterdam's merchants had the largest share in both the Dutch East India
Company (VOC) and the Dutch West India Company. These companies acquired
overseas possessions that later became Dutch colonies.
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