VOC – history

Hi,

I’ve got a question which might be interresting to all of you. I was just reading an essay on the Verenigde Oost-Indische Company (VOC), the Dutch East-Indian Company. In the beginning of the 17th century, this company created the coastal city Batavia. However, the Republic was then at war with Spain, how was it able to put so much effort in an overseas adventure. The VOC was a private-owned company, but was it able to perform military activities? Did the VOC have something of a ‘navy’ to protect its trade-vessels, and even more, to force an amphibious attack on Batavia?

I know there are enough Dutchmen around here who know a lot more on the subject than I do.