His lifespan covered the period of the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648), which was a Dutch Revolt against Spain that resulted in the secession of seven provinces that came to form the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands.

[2] The religious revolution of the Reformation erupted in Antwerp with violent riots in August 1566, and the Eighty Years' War followed shortly after.

Most settlers went to the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands (the unoccupied part of the Union of Utrecht) in the north, laying the commercial foundation for the subsequent "Dutch Golden Age".

Like his friend Usselincx, Peter Minuit had also been disappointed by the Dutch West India Company and was replaced as governor of New Amsterdam.

He referred to the wealth acquired by Spain and The Netherlands in similar enterprises and extolled Sweden's resources for success in the marketplace.

The king commissioned Usselinx to raise the capital for the Swedish South Company through stock subscriptions in Sweden and its territories.

[12][13] Usselincx relocated from The Netherlands to Sweden but the process of the founding of the new company was difficult and time-consuming,[14] despite the support of Axel Oxenstierna, Swedish Lord High Chancellor.

But by that time, Usselincx was largely financially ruined due to bad investments and unable to profit from his vision.