Batavia (today's Jakarta) was the main base for all activities of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in the Far East and South East Asia. The Dutch established their first trading post in Java at the port of Banten (Bantam), which later was removed to a nearby place, which they named Batavia. In 1516 the Dutch East India Company made the port their headquarters for all trade and operations, until the company's demise at the end of the 18th century.
Originally, Malacca was used as port by the VOC, after it was captured from the Portuguese in 1641. It served as transshipment port for the region. Later, however, Malacca's importance started to decline as Batavia was preferred over Malacca as VOC operation base. Despite this the Dutch kept control over Malacca, as it was situated in a strategic location at the Malacca Straits, the main trade route to East Asia.
Batavia became the port where all Dutch ships would be calling during their voyages to and from Europe.
Notes: The V.O.C. (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie) was established in 1602 and was defunct in 1798. During its exstence the V.O.C was the biggest of all European East India Companies.
