American Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands

The USA and the Netherlands: two countries, one spirit, united by values, history and a vision of the future.

Four hundred years ago, a Dutch ship called the Half Moon guided to the shores of what is now New York City with Captain Henry Hudson at the helm. This lead to the establishment of New Amsterdam and the New Netherland colony. Some 167 years later, in 1776, the Dutch were the first to salute the flag of the United States of America. NY400 celebrates the free spirit, openness, entrepreneurship and tolerance of those Dutch-American pioneers, and their continued relevance today and beyond.  Throughout the year a series of events will be organized in New York and the Netherlands to commemorate and celebrate 400 years of trade relations and friendship.  Be sure to check the events calendars on the Dutch and US NY400 websites.

A COMMEMORATIVE VOLUME about the shared DNA of Amsterdam and New York, "1609: THE FORGOTTEN HISTORY OF HUDSON, AMSTERDAM AND NEW YORK" - BY GEERT MAK AND RUSSELL SHORTO - can be downloaded for free!  With compliments of sponsor Schiphol Group.  You can visit the website for your download of the English ór Dutch version.

 A WALKING TOUR OF 17TH CENTURY DUTCH NEW YORK - The New Amsterdam Trail brochure can be downloaded here.

This colorful brochure provides a virtual tour through the streets of what was once New Amsterdam. You can of course also print it  and take it with you when traveling to New York. The brochure and accompanying audio tour introduce the diverse and fascinating first residents of New Amsterdam. Among the historic sites covered are Peter Stuyvesant’s house, Fort Amsterdam (now the National Museum of the American Indian), the Wall and the house of one of New Amsterdam’s most notorious couples, Griet Reyniers and Anthony van Salee.