#history
V.O.C. Gate.
Most people think of the British when the name East India Company is mentioned.
However the Dutch ( present day Netherlands) East India Company had defeated the Portuguese and occupied Fort Cochin earlier . The company was called the VOC.
The Dutch East India Company followed the Portuguese rule and took control of Fort Cochin in 1663 . They governed the area till they were defeated by the British East India Company in 1795.
The Bolghatty Palace was built by the Dutch as the residence of the Governor.
Of the three Dutch Governors, Henrik van Reede ( 1669-1676) earned a place in history as the person who undertook the preparation and publication of the epic treatise, Hortus Malabaricus , which details the native plants of the Malabar coast.
The historic VOC Gate in Fort Kochi was built by the Dutch East India Company in the year 1740.
VOC gate got its name from the monogram ‘VOC’ carved on it. VOC stands for ‘Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie’ which means ‘United East India Company’.
– Joy Kallivayalil.
