Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
He’s been called the founding father of the Dutch East India Company, but his story is darker and more shocking than most people know. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt helped engineer the world’s first great multinational corporation — the VOC — which transformed the Dutch Republic into a global powerhouse. But behind the riches came violence, corruption, and betrayal. And while the company’s empire eventually collapsed, Johan’s own fate was even more tragic: executed by the very state he served. In this video, we uncover the rise and fall of both man and company — and the lessons history still whispers today.
He’s been called the founding father of the Dutch East India Company, but his story is darker and more shocking than most people know. Johan van Oldenbarnevelt helped engineer the world’s first great multinational corporation — the VOC — which transformed the Dutch Republic into a global powerhouse. But behind the riches came violence, corruption, and betrayal. And while the company’s empire eventually collapsed, Johan’s own fate was even more tragic: executed by the very state he served. In this video, we uncover the rise and fall of both man and company — and the lessons history still whispers today.
