Did the Dutch Take Destinies Into Their Own Hands?

The dutch colonial enterprise was a very conscious national effort, and almost certainly did much to fund wealth and economic success. Slavery formed a central part in these settlements. It's been estimated that between one third and two thirds of the inhabitants of dutch east india cities were enslaved people,. Before 16 60, many others were en forced labor, often from china. In west africa, the dutch pushed out their rivals. The plan was not to trade alongside other nations and compete with them, such as did the portuguese, venetians and german traders in goa; instead they wanted to replace their competitors.