question: what caused the Dutch to expand thier spice trade in the malaccan straits ?
answer: ousting the Portuguese in 1640 -- 41
turker_answer: Ousting the Portuguese in 1640-41 caused the Dutch to expand their spice trade in the malaccan straits .
rule-based: Ousting the Portuguese in 1640 -- 41 caused the Dutch to expand thier spice trade in the malaccan straits .