 Sailing
from Amsterdam around the Cape of Good Hope across the Indian Ocean
to the island of Java and back again was a journey undertaken almost
routinely by the VOC ships three centuries ago. Not since those
spice trading days of the "Vereenigde Oostindische Companie"
(United East India Company) has such a voyage been attempted.
 Spices
were valued in those days, as they are today, for their flavour
and as medicines. Cloves, nutmeg and mace only grew on a few small
volcanic islands of the Moluccas (now the Maluku province of Indonesia).
Because spices were sourced from so far away operating a united
fleet proved very lucrative for the Dutch..
 Duyfken's
crew will sail the 20 metre, Fremantle-built sailing ship replica
from Sydney to Jakarta, then along the original spice trade route
to The Netherlands to arrive there in April/May, 2002.
 She
will then be part of the commemorations of the founding of the
VOC 400 years ago, starting on the island of Texel, followed by
visits to the original VOC ports in the Netherlands.
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