WIC office - Hoorn

When you think of the Golden Age, you think of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). But the infamous Dutch West India Company (WIC) was at least as important. Both had an office in Hoorn.


Both the VOC and the WIC traded slaves. During the 17th and 18th century the WIC obtained the monopoly of the trade and shipping at Western Africa and America. Rum, textile and other products were brought to Western Africa with ships. In exchange for these products they received slaves which were transported to America. The slave trading increased massively in the Golden Age: over 50.000 Africans were enslaved an brought to America in the 17th century.

What did these slaves do in America? Being exploited at sugar, cotton, and tabacco plantations. The proceeds of these plantations were then traded in Europe. Due to this trade there was a substantial increase of wealth and consumption of luxurious products in Europe.

You may wonder what took place at the WIC office. At this place in Hoorn the men of the trading company met.