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What part did Johan van Oldenbarnevelt play in founding the Dutch East India Company?

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Johan van Oldenbarnevelt played an instrumental role in the founding of the Dutch East India Company in 1602. Serving as the landsadvocaat (chief minister) of Holland, he was responsible for mobilizing and coordinating the resources of the Dutch Republic to sustain its ongoing war of independence against Spain.12

As part of these efforts to organize the nation's economic and military strength, Oldenbarnevelt took an active part in establishing the company. By consolidating trade interests and securing a state-granted monopoly, he helped create the commercial instrument that would protect Dutch trade in the Indian Ocean and bolster the state’s position during the conflict.21