In this episode of The Story of the Netherlands, Lucas and Luna explore the little-known story of Herman van den Berg, a Dutch factor in Bengal who became a key figure in the VOC's saltpeter trade. Starting from the 1660s, when the VOC sought to secure supplies of saltpeter for gunpowder—essential for European wars and colonial expansion—van den Berg navigated the complex politics of the Mughal Empire, competing with English traders and local officials. The episode covers the VOC's shift from Swedish to Indian saltpeter, the role of Patna as a trading hub, the Dutch factory at Cossimbazar, and how van den Berg's deals with Mughal governors like Shaista Khan shaped the trade. It also touches on the broader implications for the Dutch Republic's military and economic power, showing how a single commodity and a shrewd merchant helped fuel the Golden Age.
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