Walcheren - West Zeeland The Dutch Golden Fleet There was a time when the tiny Netherlands was a global superpower. This was entirely due to its superior fleet, enabling it to trade with distant shores, outdo foreign competitors, and achieve steep profits. The ships were owned by the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or VOC for short), the very first multinational in history, which quickly grew into the world’s largest trading corporation.