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possible for a VOC ship. By identifying the specific combinations of requirements and linking them to the logistical elements of the shipping, the problems the VOC management encoun- tered in adapting ships for their purposes can be understood beter. Above all, this study hopes to broaden the European viewpoint on the VOC shipping towards a more inclusive perspective that will inspire further European-Asian historical-archaeological research into this important phase of this shared history. Structure of the book This study is based on a compiled record, contained within a database of intra-Asian shipping for the period -. It is important for the reader to understand how the information for the list of VOC vessels and their voyages has been gathered and structured. Therefore, the following chapter is dedicated to the database and its design. The research is presented in three parts. Part  employs a descriptive approach to present a chronological narrative of the growth and logistical aspects of the VOC organisation and of Dutch shipping in Asia from -. Part  is a detailed quantitative analysis of information contained in the database, created for the purposes of this study, and which is intended to provide evidence to support, supplement or challenge the conclusions that emerge from the standard account. An appendix with the full list of vessels in service by the VOC during the period under study is included at the end of this book. The full database will be published separate in an electronic format.  Dutch Ships in Tropical Waters