Did you know New York City was originally called New Amsterdam? The Dutch were the first Europeans to settle in New York when they traded (or tricked) the Lenape tribe into ownership of the Manna-hata island. The Dutch named it Nieuw Amsterdam, the capital of the colony of Nieuw Netherlands. In 1664 the island was taken over by the English and renamed for the Duke of York. But many of the Dutch influences on New York City remained.
It was hard for me to leave my life in Amsterdam, but I take comfort in the little Dutch influences on New York City that remain today. Little things like street names or architectural styles remind me of our life in the Netherlands, and I appreciate how closely the two cities are related. Keep reading for some of the most interesting Dutch influences on New York City.
Cultural Influences
The Dutch settlers who started New Amsterdam came from a society with less rigid class structures than places like England or France and brought with them the idea that anyone could make their fortune in the new colony and move up in society. This could have been the start of the enduring idea that anyone has the chance to “make it” in NYC. The Dutch were (and still are!) a very tolerant society, which probably contributed to such a melting pot of different cultures.
Wall Street
The original Dutch colony covered the Southern tip of Manhattan. Today you can still walk the winding streets South of Fulton Street that were first laid out by the Dutch in a typical European style. In fact, Wall Street was named for the original city wall around New Amsterdam.
Street Names
The Dutch influences on New York City are most clear when you start to look at their names. Here’s a list of some of the most recognizable, although there are countless more.
- Bowery – originally Bouwerij, an old Dutch word for farm
- Bleeker Street – after the Bleeker family
- Gansevoort Street – after Peter Gansevoort
- Holland Tunnel – you get why
- Stuyvesant Street – after Peter Stuyvesant
- Pearl Street – originally Paerlstraat for the oysters once in the harbor
- Amsterdam Avenue – of course
Other Places in NYC
Of course, streets aren’t the only places where Dutch names have remained. Did you know there’s also a Haarlem just 15 minutes from Amsterdam in the NL? Brooklyn is also the adaptation of Breukelen, a city in the Netherlands. Other places in New York that take their names from the Dutch include:
- Greenwich Village – after Grenen wijk
- Battery Island – after batterij for the battery of cannons once there
- Coney Island – originally Konijneneiland for all the rabbits that inhabited the island
- Long Island – originally Lange Eylandt
- Rikers Island – after Abraham Rikers
- Bushwick – after Boswijk
Have you noticed these Dutch influences on New York City? Next time you’re in town, take a look around and maybe you’ll notice a few. And if you want more history, visit the Museum of the City of New York which is supposed to have an exhibition on the Dutch colony.
If you’re looking for more things to do in NYC, visit my extensive travel guide here.
Xx, Kelsey
Sources: Iamexpat.nl and BBC
