All countries “invaded” by the Netherlands

The Netherlands might be small, but it hasn’t always stayed within its borders. Its rise began in the late 16th century, during the fight for independence from Spain. After gaining freedom in 1581, the Dutch Republic became a huge player in shipping and trade. By the early 1600s, the Dutch were already building one of the most widespread networks of trade, colonies, and influence the world had seen.

At first, the Netherlands focused on Europe. It was a major naval force in the Anglo-Dutch Wars — four bitter conflicts with England fought mainly over trade and sea routes. For a time, the Dutch even competed with the British and Spanish Empires on equal footing. Amsterdam grew into one of Europe’s richest cities, and the country built alliances and fought battles across the continent, including during the Franco-Dutch War and the War of Spanish Succession.

But it didn’t stop there.

A Global Reach Fueled by Trade and Colonies

By the 17th century, Dutch ships were reaching Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Much of this was driven by two state-chartered companies: the Dutch East India Company (VOC), which focused on Asia, and the Dutch West India Company, which operated in the Atlantic.

They weren’t just trading — they were establishing forts, seizing land, and setting up governments. The VOC, in particular, had its own military and functioned like a multinational corporation with territorial ambitions. The company controlled what is now Indonesia for centuries and played a role in regions like Sri Lanka, southern India, and even Japan (through a single trading post on Dejima island during Japan’s period of isolation).

In the west, the Dutch founded New Amsterdam — now New York City — and held colonies in Suriname, the Caribbean, and parts of Brazil.

The world map below, created by Reddit user u/Artifexian, shows all the countries the Dutch have “invaded” or had some military or colonial presence in.

A full list of former Dutch colonies can be found here.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, the Netherlands has joined military missions through NATO and the UN — from Bosnia to Afghanistan. These aren’t invasions in the colonial sense, but they do show that Dutch soldiers continue to be active beyond Europe.

A Small Country, A Big Global Legacy

For such a compact nation, the Netherlands has had a surprisingly outsized role in world history. Its ships crossed nearly every ocean. Its companies built a global trade network. And its legacy can still be seen today — from Indonesian words in Dutch, to Dutch-style buildings in the Caribbean, to the name of New York’s streets.