High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Noordsche or Groenlandse Compagnie (Noordse Compagnie or Compagnie van Spitsbergen) (English: Northern or Greenland Company) was a cartel for whaling, founded by several cities in the Netherlands. The company existed from 1614 to 1642, but soon after its founding became entangled in conflicts with England, Denmark, France, and within the Netherlands.