Dutch expansion and trade in Asia, primarily during the 17th century, differed significantly from Portuguese and Spanish expansion in the preceding centuries. While the Portuguese and Spanish sought to establish vast overseas empires through colonization, driven by their quest for direct trade routes to Asia, the Dutch pursued a more focused and efficient approach. They established trading posts and monopolized key trade routes without extensive colonization, using the Dutch East India Company model. This approach allowed the Dutch to control the spice trade profitably in regions like Indonesia, the Malacca Strait, and Taiwan. Portuguese and Spanish colonization left cultural and linguistic legacies in their territories, whereas Dutch influence is prominent in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, where it shaped architecture, legal systems, and language.