In which of the following places the Dutch established their trading centres in India?

The correct answer is All of the above.

Key Points

• In 1602, the United East India Company of the Netherlands was formed and given permission by the Dutch government to trade in the East Indies including India.
• The Dutch founded their first factory in Masaulipatam in Andhra Pradesh in 1605.
• Subsequently, they also established trading centres in various parts of India.
  • Konkan (Northern part of Westcoast India)
    • Surat (1616-1795)
    • Agra (1621-1720)
    • Burhanpur
    • Kanpur (1650-1685)
    • Ahmadabad (1617-1744)
    • Bharuch (of Brochia, Broach)
    • Vengurla (1637-1685)
    • Kundapura (1667- ca.1682)
  • Malabar (Southern part of Westcoast India)
    • Veeramala Hills,Cheruvathur 
    • Cannanore (1663-1790) (taken from Portugal)
    • Ponnani (ca. 1663)
    • Cochin, Cochin de Baixo or Santa Cruz (1663) (taken from Portugal)
    • Purakkad (ca. 1680-1750)
    • Kayamkulam (ca. 1645)
    • Quilon (Coylan) (1661) (taken from Portugal)
  • Coromandel (East coast of India)
    • Golkonda(1662-ca 1733)
    • Jaggernaikpoeram 
    • Nagelwanze (1669-1687); now Nagulavancha
    • Masulipatnam (1605-1756)
    • Petapoeli (1606-1668); now Nizampatnam
    • Paliacatta (1610-1781/ 1785-1795/ 1805-1825) to the English; now Pulicat
    • Tegenapatnam, Kudalur (1608-1758); now Cuddalore
    • Negapatnam (1658-1781) to the English.
    • Tuticorin or Tutucorim (1658); now Thoothukudi
• Hence, option 4 is correct.

Additional Information

• The Dutch founded their first factory in Masaulipatam in Andhra Pradesh in 1605.
  • Subsequently, they also established trading centres in various parts of India.
• Dutch Suratte and Dutch Bengal were established in 1616 AD and 1627 AD respectively.
  • The Dutch conquered Ceylon from the Portuguese in 1656 AD.
  • They also took the Portuguese forts on the Malabar Coast in 1671 AD.
• The Dutch gradually became a potent force capturing Nagapatam near Madras (Chennai) from the Portuguese thereby establishing their foothold in South India.
  • In economic terms, they earned huge profit through business monopolizing black pepper and spices.
  • The major Indian commodities traded by the Dutch were cotton, indigo, silk, rice, and opium.