The correct answer is: a) Kochi.
The Dutch established their presence in Kerala by setting up a trading post in Kochi in 1655. The Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC) was a chartered company founded in 1602, which was the first multinational corporation in the world and the first company to issue stock. The VOC was granted a monopoly on trade with Asia by the Dutch government, and it quickly became one of the most powerful companies in the world.
The VOC established a trading post in Kochi in 1655, and it soon became one of the most important trading posts in the VOC’s empire. The Dutch built a fort in Kochi, which they named Fort Cochin. Fort Cochin was a major trading center for the VOC, and it was also a major military base. The Dutch controlled Kochi for over 150 years, until they were expelled by the British in 1795.
The other options are incorrect because:
- Kollam was a major trading center for the Portuguese, not the Dutch.
- Kannur was a major trading center for the Arabs, not the Dutch.
- Kozhikode was a major trading center for the Chinese, not the Dutch.