Dutch West India Company was formed by Dutch merchants and chartered by the government of the Netherlands in 1621. The company was given trading and colonizing privileges for a period of 24 years in the Americas and West Africa. The charter was renewed in 1647 for a period of 25 years. The Dutch West India Company founded the colony of New Netherland, which included parts of what are now the U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut. See New Netherland; Patroon system.
