The Dutch West India Company was established in 1621 as a chartered company of the Dutch Republic, which granted it a 24-year monopoly to trade and carry out colonial activities in the Americas and West Africa. The company was also authorized to wage war against the enemies of the republic, especially Spain and Portugal, who were involved in the Eighty Years' War with the Dutch.
One of the main objectives of the company was to undermine the Spanish and Portuguese economies by attacking their colonies and disrupting their trade. The company hoped to gain access to the lucrative markets of sugar, tobacco, spices, gold, silver, and slaves, and to establish a Dutch colonial empire in the New World. The company also sought to challenge the Portuguese monopoly on the trade routes to Asia, especially the East Indies, where the Dutch East India Company had already established a foothold.
The company achieved some notable successes in its economic warfare against Spain and Portugal, such as capturing the Brazilian city of Recife in 1630, the African forts of Elmina and Luanda in 1637, and the Portuguese stronghold of Malacca in 1641. However, the company also faced fierce resistance from the local populations, the Portuguese settlers, and the allied native kingdoms, who launched guerrilla wars and counterattacks against the Dutch invaders. The company also suffered from internal mismanagement, corruption, and financial difficulties, which hampered its ability to maintain its colonies and fleets.
The Dutch–Portuguese War ended in 1663 with the Treaty of The Hague, which recognized the status quo of the colonial possessions of both parties. The treaty also allowed for free trade between the Dutch and the Portuguese in Asia, Africa, and America. The Dutch West India Company retained some of its colonies, such as Curaçao, Suriname, and parts of the Guianas, but lost most of its territories in Brazil and Africa to the Portuguese. The company also failed to establish a lasting presence in the East Indies, where the Dutch East India Company dominated the spice trade. The company was dissolved in 1791 after a series of bankruptcies and wars.