Were the British and Dutch East India Companies commercial and military rivals of the same size and power at their heights during the 17th Century?

Yes, the two companies were in fierce economic competition throughout much of the seventeenth century, although the English learned from the Dutch successes and used these to form the fulcrum of their own successes. Due to the Dutch successes, the East India Company was induced to trading in India, which improved English trade routes considerably, a welcome improvement since Elizabeth I had known the dangers of relying on a single market when, following the debasement of coinage in the 1550s, trade with Antwerp slumped. Nevertheless, Elizabeth had relied on traditional trading agreements with other nations more than the East India Company, although Drake’s pirating of Spanish ships gave the Company its piratical nature. Despite privateering bringing in much-needed capital in the short term, particularly since war with Spain was inevitable, the Company’s influence was insignificant in that it could not immediately be considered successful.

The Company’s influence increased upon the accession of Charles II to the throne in 1660 with a significant increase in piratical activities. Trading stations were loaned from native rulers and the European powers fought over these stations; following the London plan, England aimed to expropriate the Dutch (and Portuguese) from their trading stations and export the bullion themselves. This intense competition led to the Anglo-Dutch Wars (1654–74, 1781–1810) which were primarily fought for control of trading routes and colonies. The Company’s piratical successes were questionable, because it was mainly Dutch efforts that freed the Indian trade routes.