Dutch Found New Amsterdam
In 1625 the Dutch West India Company established Fort Amsterdam and the settlement of New Amsterdam at the tip of Manhattan Island, following Henry Hudson's 1609 voyage up the river bearing his name. New Amsterdam became the capital of New Netherland, a commercial colony focused on the fur trade that stretched along the Hudson River valley. The settlement's multicultural character—traders from many nations—reflected Dutch commercial pragmatism. In 1664 an English fleet took New Amsterdam without a shot, renaming it New York in honour of the Duke of York.
- Year: 1625 CE
- Category: Political
