[5] Yet Frederick refused to grant the company a monopoly on the island in fear of antagonizing Dutch whalers in the area.

[6] During the first decades of the company, it witnessed bankruptcy, diseases like smallpox[a] and scurvy,[7] and constant Dutch raids.

[9] A Dutch flotilla of four ships was moored in their harbourage Maklykout (which was later renamed Jacobshavn in honour of Jacob Severin[4]) outside of Disko Bay.

The Dutch had started trading with the local Greenlanders when they were caught by three Danish ships commanded by Jacob Severin.

Severin attacked and the ensuing battle lasted about an hour, during which the Dutch suffered significant damage, before they lowered their flags, surrendered, and conceded their four ships to the Danes.