Lesson 2/34 min
The Dutch, Danes and French
The three nations at a glance
| Nation | Company formed | In Bengal and India | Exit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch / Olandaj | 1602 | Bengal in 1630; factories at Chinsura, Bankura, Kasimbazar, Baranagar | 1805 |
| Danes / Dinemar | 1616 | Tranquebar (India) 1620; Serampore in Bengal | 1845 |
| French | 1664 | Surat 1668; factory at Chandannagar 1690 | 1760 (Battle of Wandiwash) |
The Dutch (Olandaj)
- Came after the Portuguese; in 1602 merchants of Holland (today's Netherlands) formed the ‘Dutch East India Company’
- Their first base in the subcontinent was Masulipatnam (Zubair)
- Factories: Calicut, Nagapattinam, Chinsura and Bankura in Bengal; also Balasore, Kasimbazar and Baranagar
- In 1805 they left the subcontinent and built colonies in Malaysia and Indonesia
Watch out: Zubair's book gives 1602 for the Dutch coming to Bengal. 1602 is the year the Dutch company was formed; according to Banglapedia and the other book they came to Bengal in 1630.
The Danes (Dinemar)
- People of Denmark; they came here after forming the Danish East India Company in 1616
- In 1620 a factory at Tranquebar in India's Thanjavur district
- Their Bengal settlement was Serampore; Alivardi Khan let them settle there in 1755
- They sold their factories to the English and left India in 1845
Watch out: One book dates the Serampore factory to 1676. Banglapedia speaks of settlement rights at Pipli, Balasore and Hooghly by 1676; the Serampore settlement dates from 1755.
The French
- The last of the European traders to come to the subcontinent; the first to try to build a European empire here
- Formed the ‘French East India Company’ in 1664 under the finance minister Colbert
- First factory at Surat in 1668; first factory in Bengal at Chandannagar in 1690
- French colonies: Pondicherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Malabar and Chandannagar in Bengal; François Martin at Pondicherry
- Their best factory in Bengal was Chandannagar; the English captured it in 1757
- Defeated by the English at the Battle of Wandiwash in 1760, French influence in the subcontinent faded
Watch out: Zubair's book gives 1668 for the French coming to Bengal, but 1668 is the year of the first factory at Surat. One book gives 1673 for Pondicherry, other sources 1674, so the year is left out here.
Check yourself
Which European traders were the last to come to the subcontinent?
At a glance
- 1
Dutch East India Company 1602; the Dutch came to Bengal in 1630 and left the subcontinent in 1805.
- 2
Dinemar = people of Denmark; company 1616; the factories were sold to the English in 1845.
- 3
French company 1664 (Colbert); factory at Surat 1668; Chandannagar was their best factory.
- 4
The French came last; they lost to the English at Wandiwash in 1760.
- 5
The English captured Chandannagar in 1757.