Which stock exchange, founded in 1602 by the Dutch East India Company, is widely regarded as the world’s first?

The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, founded in 1602 by the Dutch East India Company, is widely regarded as the world’s first stock exchange.

The exchange began when the Dutch East India Company issued shares to raise long-term capital for overseas trading and exploration. Investors could buy and sell these shares, creating an organized secondary market.

Trading originally took place in Amsterdam, where the exchange became a major center for commerce and finance during the Dutch Golden Age. Its development helped establish practices associated with modern securities markets, including publicly traded company ownership.

The Amsterdam Stock Exchange later became part of Euronext through a series of mergers. It is sometimes confused with the Amsterdam commodity exchange or with older informal trading venues, but 1602 is the key date associated with the first publicly traded company and its organized share market.