Jan Pieterszoon Coen was a Dutch merchant and colonial administrator born in 1587. He is best known for founding the city of Batavia, now known as Jakarta, in Indonesia in 1619. Coen played a significant role in establishing the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a dominant trading power in Asia, focusing on the spice trade. Coen's leadership was marked by both economic success and controversial military actions. He aimed to secure Dutch interests in the region by eliminating competition, particularly from the Portuguese and English. His legacy is complex, reflecting both the expansion of Dutch trade and the impact of colonialism in Southeast Asia.