Did the dutch have interest in a water route to china?

Yes, during the Golden Age of the Dutch Republic in the 17th century, the Dutch had a strong interest in finding a water route to China. This was because the existing overland routes were long, difficult, and controlled by the Ottoman Empire, making them expensive and vulnerable to disruption.

As the Dutch Republic emerged as a major maritime power in the early 17th century, they began to explore the Arctic and to search for a "Northeast Passage" to Asia. This route would allow them to sail directly to China and the East Indies, bypassing the Ottoman Empire and the Portuguese, who controlled the established trade routes via the Indian Ocean.

Several expeditions were launched by Dutch explorers, most famously Willem Barentsz, who made three voyages to the Arctic between 1594 and 1597, but failed to find a viable route. Other Dutch explorers tried from the Pacific side to find a Northwest Passage, but they also failed.

Although they ultimately did not find the Northeast Passage, the Dutch did establish new trading posts and colonies in the Arctic, and their explorations contributed to the development of early modern cartography.