Klein-Venedig (Little Venice) is the most significant territory of the German colonization of the Americas, from 1528 to 1546, in which the Augsburg-based Welser banking family obtains colonial rights in the Province of Venezuela in return for debts owed by Charles I of Spain.

The primary motivation is the search for the legendary golden city of El Dorado.

The venture is initially led by Ambrosius Ehinger, who founds Maracaibo in 1529.

After the deaths of first Ehinger (1533) and his successor Georg von Speyer (1540), Philipp von Hutten continues exploration in the interior, and in his absence from the capital of the province, the crown of Spain claims the right to appoint the governor.

On Hutten's return to the capital, Santa Ana de Coro, in 1546, the Spanish governor Juan de Carvajal has von Hutten and Bartholomeus VI.

Welser executed.

Subsequently the emperor Charles I revokes Welser's charter.Welser had transported German miners to the colony, as well as four thousand African slaves as labor to work sugar cane plantations.

Many of the German colonists died from tropical diseases, to which they had no immunity, or hostile Indian attacks during frequent journeys deep into Indian territory in search of gold.