Clumsy Pioneer's Epic Fails Launched Asian Trade Revolution

How bad was Cornelis de Houtman at exploring? His crew named a port 'the Dutch cemetery.'

How bad was he at diplomacy? He mistook a welcoming party for an attack and slaughtered them.

How bad was his cultural awareness? He managed to offend every kingdom in Java.

Not just one - all of them.

But here's the thing:

This bumbling merchant's son accidentally broke Portugal's spice monopoly and launched the Dutch colonial empire.

Sometimes you don't need to be good.

You just need to be first.