The Amsterdam Stock Exchange (now part of Euronext Amsterdam) is widely regarded as the oldest stock market in the world, with origins dating back to 1602 when the Dutch East India Company issued shares and established regular securities trading. Its legacy is often cited as the birth of the modern equity market.
Key points
- Origin: 1602, Amsterdam, tied to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and its public issuance of shares.
- Evolution: Formalization of early stock trading, setting precedents for secondary markets and standardized securities trading.
- Ongoing presence: The venue has evolved over centuries and continues today as part of the Euronext group (Euronext Amsterdam).
Notes on alternate claims
- Some sources reference the New York Stock Exchange or London Stock Exchange in discussions about “oldest,” but these markets formalized later than Amsterdam’s 1602 onset of sustained securities trading. The Amsterdam exchange remains the best-accepted candidate for the oldest continuous securities market.
If you’d like, I can pull in additional sources or provide a brief timeline of the major milestones that led from Amsterdam’s early trading to today’s global exchanges.
