The Netherlands

The Netherlands started its colonial activities and projects in Africa, as in many countries, with the Dutch United East India Company. At first, the company saw the region as an ideal rest and retirement place for its employees, but as time passed and the opportunities of the region began to be realized, they decided to turn it into one of the first colonial centers of the Netherlands. With some exceptions, these colonial camps of the Netherlands were mostly located on the coastline, close to places such as factories and ports. Colonial companies aimed to provide control and financial comfort by setting limits on the properties to be purchased. In addition to all this, major cultural changes took place in the regions exploited by the Netherlands.

The Netherlands first established its presence in South Africa in 1652, in a region estimated to be close to where Cape Town is currently located. Since then, they have continued to exist in South Africa. During their stay in South Africa, they added richness to their language from several different languages, including the Dutch spoken there at that time. While the Netherlands improved its language to some extent over the centuries, a language similar to the Dutch began to be used in Africa. Thereupon, African citizens, who were disturbed by the fact that this language, which is described as African Dutch, was taking their country hostage, tried to prevent this by establishing some non-governmental organizations and organizations, and they were somewhat successful.

The fact that the Dutch were very powerful overseas at that time and wanted more played a major role in the development of these colonial activities. Since it was not possible for companies owned by large states to carry out these overseas operations, they rented companies from different countries. The biggest examples of this are the Dutch West India Company and the Dutch East India Company. These two companies were known as the two largest trading companies of the period and their fame was known as the Bosphorus of Magellan, the Cape of Hope, etc. It increased even more as they moved places. The fact that these companies had such a good market enabled the Netherlands, which was already powerful at that time, to grow even further in the 17th century and lay the solid foundations of its colonial empire.

When the calendar showed the 18th century, the Dutch Empire lost the majority of its colonial monopoly to the United Kingdom and France, which were stronger than before and continued to grow stronger. Thereupon, with the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, the Netherlands began to lose power after being hit hard. And the Netherlands, which lost its resources alongside its developing rivals over time, was no longer as strong as other major European countries.