VOC Voyages to the Cape

The VOC was formed in 1602 and set up an extensive shipping trading network. These ships were used to transport goods, passengers (e.g., VOC officials, troops, and settlers) and slaves. The Dutch demand for slaves strengthened the existing universal slave networks and increased the profits of the VOC. Conditions on the ships were appalling for all, but more so for the slaves. The long, cooped up journeys combined with a lack of fresh food and water led to the death of many. Falling overboard and drowning, whether by murder or accident, were common events and not always reported. The crew often took female slaves as sexual partners for the duration of the voyage and assaulted young boys. 

The aim of the database is to give an idea of the overall length of these voyages, of when, how many ships, and how many people arrived at the Cape of Good Hope and other South African Bays, and who had contact with the inhabitants. Where there is contact between different people, an exchange of ideas take place. The slaves and indigenous peoples did not live in a vacuum of ignorance. Only voyages icw the aforementioned are covered. Many of the ships called at other ports during their voyages recorded here but I have excluded those.

Database compiled from VOC Shipping records of the Dutch Archive

Transcribed by Lara Seaward

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