1556-01-01 00:00:00

Reign of Emperor Akbar begins.

1589-01-01 22:27:21

Van Linschoten, a Dutch merchant & historian passes through Bengal

1602-01-01 10:22:43

The first fleet of the Dutch sail for the Indies under Frederick de Houtman in 1595.

The Dutch were about a century later than the Portuguese, but only four years later than the English, in making their first venture to the East. They found the "Society for trade to Distant Countries ' in 1597. This Society occupies its first station on the Indian peninsula in 1598, and in 1602 became the Dutch East India Company.

1605-01-01 00:00:00

Death of Emperor Akbar, his son Jahangir becomes Emperor.

1605-01-01 22:27:20

Hugo Grotius spends a significant part of his early career, dealing with the economic affairs of the East Indies, either in the service of the Dutch East India Company or as a negotiator on behalf of the Dutch Republic.

The continued state of war in Europe, the unsatisfactory low profits, and competition from the English in the East India trade, engaged Grotius in the East Indian affairs.

1606-01-01 10:31:57

A factory is established at Petapuli in Northern Coromondal Coast and in the same year a second factory is established at Masulipatnam.

1608-01-01 22:27:19

Factory is established at Tirupapaliyur, in Cuddalore, which is the district headquarters of the Cuddalore district, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

1610-01-01 22:27:19

Dutch factory established at Arakan (Mrauk U)

1610-01-01 22:27:19

Yet another factory is established at Pulicat (in the present Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, in South India).

1612-01-01 22:27:19

Cotton piece goods from Coromandel and Gujarat are described as the 'left arm' of the Dutch Company's trade in the Moluccas for spices which formed its 'right arm'

1615-01-01 00:00:00

Sir Thomas Roe, the English ambassador, visits Jahangir’s court and stays for the next three years.

1615-01-01 22:36:34

Chief Factor Jan Gaeff is sent from Masulipatnam to Arakan and Bengal to ascertain prospects of trade there.

1616-01-01 22:36:34

Gaeff’s yacht reaches Arakan but could not reach Bengal as it is driven off shore by strong winds.

1622-01-01 22:36:34

A fleet of three ships – the Scheidam, the Muys, and the Jager is sent to Bengal under the command of Jan Corenlisz Kunst who was interested in buying textiles, sugar, and saltpetre from the region.

1623-01-01 22:36:34

V.O.C. charter is reviewed by Netherlands.

1624-01-01 22:36:34

The Dutch visit Bengal first in 1626, according to Orme, and in 1632, after the expulsion of the Portuguese from Hooghly, they settle there, and found Chinsurah.

Around this time, we find a pamphlet on the “Amboyna massacre” from the English point of view. It talks of the unfair, harsh, and vicious proceedings against the English at Amboyna in the East-Indies, by the Dutch Governor and Counsel there. It describes in detail the torture to which the English were subjected and also contains two illustrations of the torture which are included in many pamphlets about the 'Amboyna massacre': one depicting the torture by water and one the torture by fire.

1625-01-01 22:36:34

Trade in Cossimbazar in silk begins.

1627-01-01 10:41:11

Factory at Pipli is established. Slave trade and saltpetre are the focus at Pipli.

1627-01-01 10:41:11

Francisco Pelsaert, a Dutch trader of the VOC, who is most famous for commanding the Dutch ship Batavia, composed the famous ‘Jahangir’s India: a Remonstrantie’. He mentions the import of cotton from Bengal.

1627-01-01 22:55:04

Dutch Governor of Coromandel deputes some men to Bengal to establish a settlement.

1628-01-01 00:54:14

Emperor Shah Jahan becomes the next Mughal Emperor.

1629-01-01 23:04:19

Next effort was made to establish the Bengal trade, the two yachts Duive and David were dispatched.

1632-01-01 10:59:41

Expulsion of the Portuguese from Hooghly by Mughal forces cleared the way for the company to establish regular trade relations with the port.

1633-01-01 00:54:14

Shah Jahan, determined to bring the Deccan under his control, sends an expedition against the ruler of Ahamadnagar and successfully annexes the kingdom.

1635-01-01 10:59:41

Shah Jahan gives a Firman permitting the Dutch to trade in Bengal.

1636-01-01 21:41:02

The role of Bengal as a source of silk is acknowledged

1639-01-01 00:00:00

Prince Shah Shuja assumes the office of the subahdar of Bengal to re-open the Factory in Hooghly, but this is ignored. It was not until 1645 and 1647 that the Hooghly factory was re-opened.

1639-01-01 00:54:14

Shah Jahan shifts his capital from Agra to Delhi in the newcity of Shahjahanabad.

1645-01-01 00:00:00

Pipli becomes the chief factory in eastern India

1645-01-01 00:00:00

Around this time, an anonymous Parisian (identified by Dirk Van der Cruysse as Jean Guidon de Chambelle) visited Bengal under the Dutch, and left us his colorful account ‘Le Voyage des Grandes Indes orientales’.

It gives us a glimpse into the judicial cruelty exercised by the V.O.C.

1645-01-01 00:00:00

Between this time period the Patna factory is re-opened which was shut down in 1638. A new factory is opened in Cossimbazar.

1653-01-01 00:00:00

The Batavia council appoints Johan Verpoorten to suggest measures for the improvement of the Bengal trade.

1655-01-01 00:00:00

Pieter Sterthemius becomes the first Dutch Governor of Bengal.

1655-01-01 00:00:00

The Batavia Council adopts a resolution which was the main factor for creation of the independent directorate of Bengal. Batavia establishes a separate organization – The Bengal Directorate.

1656-01-01 00:00:00

The Batavia Council fixes the annual revenue as Rs 582. Sterthemius first chooses Cossimbazar as chief factory then later that year shifts to Hooghly and finally the factory at Chinsurah as the main seat of operations.

1656-01-01 00:00:00

Dutch/ V.O.C. builds factory in Chinsurah.

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1657-01-01 00:54:14

The war of succession broke out between his four sons Dara Shikhoh, Shah Shuja, Murad and Aurangzeb.

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1658-01-01 00:00:00

The Dutch painter Rembrandt was inspired by Mughal paintings, particularly as visible in 'copies' he made between 1654 and 1660.

1658-01-01 00:00:00

Mattheus van den Broucke becomes the Dutch Governor of Bengal.

1658-01-01 00:54:14

Aurangzeb defeats Dara Shikhoh at Samugarh, and marches to Agra where he imprisons his father the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. He also crowns himself as the next Mughal Emperor.

1662-01-01 00:00:00

After the death of Shah Jahan, a Dutch embassy led by Van Adrichem is sent to Delhi to get similar concessions from the new emperor Aurangzeb.

One of the Firmans exempted the Dutch from paying transit and similar duties throughout Bengal, Bihar and Orissa ; Firman granted by Aurangzeb - The Dutch could anchor in any place of their choice in Hooghly, Balasore, and Pipli; they had free remit to transport and travel with their goods across the kingdom; they could do so on their own terms and conditions and appoint local agents; they could not be harassed in any way while they transported salt petre, silk, sugar, wax, and other commodities.

1663-01-01 00:00:00

Rogier van Heyningen becomes the Dutch Governor of Bengal.

1664-06-01 09:39:36

Shivaji the Maratha ruler makes his first attack on Surat.

1665-01-01 00:00:00

Tavernier tours Bihar and Bengal.

1665-01-01 00:00:00

Arnoldus van Watchtendonk becomes the Dutch Governor of Bengal.

1665-06-01 09:39:36

Aurangzeb sends his most able general Raja Jai Singh to subdue Shivaji and Jai Singh emerges victorious in the task.

1665-06-01 09:39:36

Shah Jahan dies.

1665-06-01 09:39:36

Shivaji is presented to Aurangzeb in Agra but is detained. 4. After his escape from Agra, Shivaji launches a second attack on Surat

1666-01-01 00:00:00

Tavernier arrives at the Dutch factory.

1666-01-01 00:00:00

The Batavia Council agreed to provide two small ships to the Mughals to help them save Chittagong from pirates.