What's left of New Amsterdam in Lower Manhattan - 2/4

A few highlights of what's left of New Amsterdam. This is part 2 of a 4-part series, in which best-selling author Russell Shorto gives a tour through what used to be New Amsterdam, and what we now call New York.
This is part 2 in a series of 4.
New Amsterdam Tour
Part 1. Why do Americans know so little about their Dutch history? • Video
Part 2. What's left of New Amsterdam in Lower Manhattan? • What's left of New Ams...
Part 3. Meet a forgotten American visionary. • A forgotten American f...
Part 4. How New Amsterdam influenced America • How New Amsterdam infl...
Russell' great book the Island at the Center of the World can be bought here: amzn.to/38OLVy9
A collection of old spots to visit in New Netherland is in the book by Heleen Westerhuijs - Exploring Historic Dutch New York amzn.to/2Me9KWu
==The biggest thanks goes out to all Cinecrowd funders of this project.==
Music is by permission from the brilliant melodysheep, Benn Jordan and Launchable Socks
Benn Jordan - Pale Blue Dot. Only $5 (or more) here: bennjordan.bandcamp.com/album/...
Melodysheep - Midnight Sun - melodysheep.bandcamp.com/
Launchable Socks - launchablesocks.bandcamp.com/
Thanks to Carl Sagan's Cosmos for inspiring part of the voiceover for this episode.
This video is with kind thanks to Labrys Reizen in the Netherlands, Russell Shorto, and all people who took the tour.
Creative Commons License. You are free to use any of this material again for your own unique purpose. Copying, however, is a little lame. Attribution would be nice. RadoJavor's image does not fall under this license.

[@Linda-hs1lk]

I'm Dutch but I have a forefather who was born in 1665 in.........New York. So he was born right after New Amsterdam changed into New York. His name was Jacobus Anthonissen. For some reason he came 'back' to The Netherlands because in 1689 he married in Amsterdam. That's all I know.

[@Linda-hs1lk]

@The Fly One I know, I live there. Although today isn't a good day....

[@Linda-hs1lk]

@The Fly One Nope

[@Linda-hs1lk]

@The Fly One Oh you mean the bad day. Yeah. But they caught the guy I just heard. I don't live in Utrecht though.

[@Linda-hs1lk]

@E W We'll never know what his reason was. He had one.

[@peterdevalk7929]

@@Linda-hs1lk Women!

[@timlambers7424]

The most important thing what is left of the Dutch influence in New York, are the street names and the names of cityparts. Brooklyn (Breukelen in Holland), Harlem (Haarlem in Holland).

[@kevins6285]

Brooklyn has many Dutch street names such as Remsen Avenue, New Utrecht Avenue and Nostrand Avenue named after Gerret Noorstrandt. These streets and many others are reminders of the Dutch settlers.

[@henryb.2941]

@@kevins6285 Coney Island (Konijnen eiland), dollar (daalder) and Staten Island named after the States General (in the former Dutch republic)

[@nonaak]

ah Breukelen, dat wist ik niet :-)

[@nonaak]

@@henryb.2941 grappig is dat

[@henryb.2941]

@@nonaak en wat te denken van woorden die ze gebruiken: Yankees (Jan-Kees), stool (stoel), stoop (stoep)

[@Rickyrab]

one major reason why new Amsterdam's buildings all disappeared: two fires, one in 1776 and the other in the early 19th century. This is why some folks built a Dutch Revival building in the early 20th century- they wanted something tangible and Dutch down there.

[@willydiaz9586]

it was 1776 and 1835 actually

[@e.jenima7263]

You would never see anybody in new yourk doing that today. its allmost a sin to be proud of any white heritage.

[@stephenstilwell1488]

@@willydiaz9586 1835 is early 19 century

[@bornanagaming3329]

@@e.jenima7263 it wasnt white mans land in the first place anyway

[@DailyTheme]

@@bornanagaming3329 my grandfather as under contract by Dutch west India Corp sent to clear Manhattan Island for farming and colonize He bought Brooklyn from Indians and traded with them Spain conquest into the Netherlands 🇳🇱 And boycotts and slaughters . Led many protestants here My French side too from slaughters of protestants, provoost gov of NYC 1699- 1700 They didn't fight back France, survivers fled to Netherlands and shipped from Holland to here England shipped protestants here also over execution until the king 🤴 converted from radical Catholicism Catholic is Greek for universal liberal and democratic They are responsible for conquesting south and Central America also We became greater now British captured New Netherlands, new Amsterdam 1670 and changed names Dutch recaptured it and left it NEW YORK exc. Then we join the union in 1788 We always belong here Your term whites is racist 🙄 Windfarms is Dutch The Netherlands is very low and flat Winds is daily and powerful off the north sea

[@JR-rj8nd]

Wall street named after a wall wow im so dumb, never realised that.

[@casparlemmens5022]

I'm not 100% sure but i think that it wasn't called after the English word "wall" but after the dutch version meaning like an elevation at the waterside (sometimes walls).

[@bigkahuna204]

@@casparlemmens5022 nope. It is named after a street in Amsterdam, the Waalstraat

[@SeverityOne]

And Brooklyn is named after Breukelen, Flushing after Vlissingen, Staten Island after Stateneiland ("Staten" being the States General, the name still used for parliament), Coney Island after Konijneneiland (Rabbit Island, in the modern spelling; in the past, probably more like Coneyne), etc.

[@jonathantan2469]

Anything with a "-kill" after it is Dutch... and named after a creek.

[@firesurfer]

@@bigkahuna204 That means Wallstreet. There literally was a wall there. (in NY) It is well documented.

[@conrad1022]

Imagine New York literally looking like a Dutch city with bicycles everywhere, trams and canals... I mean ngl that wouldn’t look so bad

[@huntrrams]

It will be like a Americanized Amsterdam

[@yassir8304]

Ado Podrinje haha stem fvd

[@adopodrinje1499]

@@yassir8304 I dont care yassir, I enjoy in Agadir... hehehehe Karima Najat Souhayla massage and extra.... dirham dirham dirham dirham...

[@adopodrinje1499]

@X X u dont live in holland. keep coping

[@arnold9861]

We never should have traded New Amsterdam...Even we didn't have much choice.

[@MDKE114]

NY's Dutch Heritage is not forgotten when you consider the MANY Dutch place names in and around NY. There's Spuyten Duyvil, Harlem, several places named for Peter Stuyvesant, Dutch Kills, The Bronx, Coney Island, Flushing, the Van Wyck Expressway, the word "stoop" for the front steps of a building and loads more.

[@telocho]

Merrie E Coney Island - Konijnen eiland (rabbit island); The Bowery - Boerderij (farmhouse), and Hoboken is a Flemmish city in Belgium.

[@IYT0]

Merrie E back then belgium was netherlands you know ;)

[@yomommastupid]

Even Utrecht and Rotterdam

[@alb12345672]

Upstate around Albany everything has Dutch roots, Watervilet, Colonie, GreenBush(Bosch), Coeymans, Beverwyck, every stream is named "kill". Rennsslear, Nassau.......

[@arthouse3074]

Don't forget our 'dollar' is named after the Dutch coin 'daalder'. Holland was the first nation that accepted the US as an independent nation and the first nation that invested in the New World. Still one of the 3 biggest investors, someone told me recently. Not sure if that is true.

[@patton303]

My family called the Huyler family came to New Amsterdam in the 1660’s. It’s really cool to learn about this.

[@simonevanmuiswinkel9464]

To be honest, in today's Dutch, it sounfs a bit funny, as it would mean 'the weeping family' :-)

[@bryanfriend4058]

The Dutch branch of my family (name Klough or Clough, many spellings) landed in New Amsterdam around 1655. They didn't travel far since my grandmother was born in Schenectady in 1900. She eventually made her way to California where my mother was born.

[@marcelodaneriperez5823]

How is possible you know the history of your ancestors from more of 300 years ago?

[@bryanfriend4058]

@@marcelodaneriperez5823 My uncle did extensive research into the family history. The Dutch branch was the first to arrive, but we also have Norwegian and German ancestor, and those lines go back nearly as far. The records from the "Old Country" are much more sketchy, but the records in the US are pretty good.

[@bigred9428]

@@marcelodaneriperez5823 , It's easier than you think, especially if they owned any land. Many people with European heritage can trace their way back to Charlemagne. FYI, if you go ancestrying, in the old days, middle names of children were often their mother's maiden name, AND they named several children the same name -- maddening.

[@jupiter2170]

I was going through my late great grandmother's paper work and found litigation papers for a land dispute of 61 ave to 63 ave on Manhattan island. My family has never settled the case. In the 50's my grandmother was demanding $250,000,000.00 for said property. I have never looked into it further and dont know if the case was ever settled. I had family, the Pangburns who settled there and probably owned said land. Imagine what the land is worth today. Its literally a few blocks from Wall Street. I need to look into it more

[@CydnotCharrise1]

My great grandmother, Phoebe Jane Scott Sherman, a descendant of Peter Praa ( among others ) was swindled out of the land that is now Rockefeller Center.

[@alvarotorres9057]

I’m sorry 😞

[@billlombard9911]

The Dutch heritage is in the NYC flag , it’s colors is the Dutch flag and it’s seal has symbolism of the Dutch East India company on it

[@MormixIngmar]

there is also a windmill on it

[@kovacskovacs3465]

These types of tours would be really neat if there were augmented reality headsets.

[@lackingpotatoes]

That's genius

[@nolanhicke9493]

Kovacs Kovacs , until someone walks into moving traffic

[@kovacskovacs3465]

@@nolanhicke9493 It would be augmented so they'd still see the traffic. It's basically the virtual reality overlaid on top of what you see IRL.

[@mr.randallinc.8591]

Kovacs Kovacs yea let’s just keep taking all the human out of being a human... Listening and imagining a story or the last 👌🏽

[@kovacskovacs3465]

@@mr.randallinc.8591 Why so pessimistic? Why wouldn't it amplify human interaction? Right now, people are on their phones, walking about without a care in the world for the next person. Maybe augmented reality would make people actually see other people for a change.

[@jayski9410]

As a native New Yorker (now living in L.A.) I've become fascinated with New York's history since National Geographic published an article in Sept. 2009, with artist's renderings showing Manhattan before Henry Hudson. These videos compliment it nicely.

[@peterpupping1258]

Thank you Russell for your research, books, videos. As a Dutch immigrant and US citizen I really appreciate understanding my Dutch heritage and it's part in America!

[@MCscarfacematt]

I wasn't going to bother with a new York trip but with me wanting to get back in touch with my Dutch background since the Dutch side of my family only really reunites at funerals and the last one being my dads back in 2011 these old Dutch touches in new Amsterdam seem like a cool place to start before I fly across the Atlantic to actual Amsterdam. but first ill be going to the Dutch settlement Halifax when I go to pier 21 where my grandparents first set foot on north America

[@kathryneast6919]

scarface matt Are you related to the Lott family?

[@magichands135]

Greatings from old Amsterdam!

[@lvi8957]

Dat is mijn.lievelings kaas 😉

[@magichands135]

@@lvi8957 Cant dispute taste, but its not really old and not really made in Amsterdam😀 But it's hard to get a good cheese abroad and this comes close. I think Beemster or Maasland is probably the dutchest cheese now if you can get it.

[@lvi8957]

👋🌷@@magichands135

[@lvi8957]

@@bigred9428 hhhh Ze smelten de kazen

[@carmencortelyou9463]

In 1652, my ancestor, Jacques Cortelyou, arrived in New Amsterdam as a young man from Utrecht, Netherlands. He was an educated man and a surveyor, among other things. He founded the village of New Utrecht, where he lived, in a section of what is now Brooklyn. Cortelyou Road, in Brooklyn, is named after him. After Peter Stuyvesant appointed him the official surveyor of New Amsterdam, he produced the map, in 1660, that later became known as the “Costello Plan.”

[@dalepeto9620]

Congratulations, is that family history? Or did you research it?

[@MF726]

He’s my ancestor also from his daughter Helena. He’s my 10th great grandfather.

[@carmencortelyou9463]

Dale Peto There is a Cortelyou Genealogy that was printed in 1942 that was in our house when I was growing up. And I have done some further reading. It really brings history alive for me, imagining what my ancestors’ lives must have been like back then.

[@carmencortelyou9463]

MF726 I’m a descendant of his son Peter.

[@waso778]

It's not a Dutch name. Jacques for sure French. Cortelyou also not. Dutch neber use a Y in name.

[@PixiBoii]

Interesting. What a shame so little remained. Most european cities have some buidlings from the 18th century.

[@bhbh820]

Hjalte RMC More like from middle ages

[@teixeira476]

Here we have castles dating 1100 DC and Roman temples (ruins)

[@notajedimaster2489]

17th century

[@nickv.6712]

Europe can suck a fart out America's big hairy ass

[@randar1969]

buildings go back as for as the 10th century in the netherlands , as for oldest structures the gravesites of the hunnen (above ground fyi) are older then the pyramids of egypt.

[@edwiser3547]

I was stationed in Netherlands when I was in the US Army. I have always had a strong affection for the Dutch. Can no longer speak the language but recognize it when passing Dutch tourists in the US. Wonderful people and a wonderful country. I would live there if it was not so cold. lol.

[@toninho7307]

Don't stay away too long .. Always welcome ! Tot ziens !

[@Ipoop7colors]

This is so awesome. I'm Dutch and I like New York and it's history.

[@friendlyflow]

Je zou er een geweldige film van kunnen maken. Van de eerste kolonisten die daar in 1624 aankwamen.

[@henryb.2941]

@@friendlyflow misschien wil de maker van Michiel De Ruyter film dat wel doen :)

[@kathryneast6919]

Ipoop7colors me too

[@bu9657]

Imagine if New York had an oldtown with characteristic Dutch buildings. That would be very cool.

[@virginiabartell2004]

In 1623, 19 year old Joris Jansen De Rapalje from France, and his 18 year old girlfriend Catelyntje Jeronimus Trico reached the New World married and have birth to Sara one year later.When Sara grew up she married Teunis Bogart; 7th great grandfather of Humphrey Bogart! Aloha😁

[@irajpandey97]

Virginia Bartell who’s Humphrey bogart

[@hansjacobs888]

Virginia Bartell Rapalje and his wife have more than 1 million people related to them directly at this moment

[@huntrrams]

Iraj Pandey a famous Hollywood actor who had powerful roles in the 1940s to 1950s. He’s known for the roles in Casablanca and Maltese Falcon. That’s kind of cool info.

[@michaelrapelje2721]

I'm Michael Rapelje direct descendent. Sara first white child born in New world. Rapelje first farmers and management of west Indies trading co.

[@JeanieD]

I am a descendent (on my father’s side) of Joris & Catelyntje, through their daughter Annetje.

[@wiliammurphy3855]

This is a nice supplement to show my 4th Grade students in the Bronx. It aligns with the curriculum and they will love it! Thank you!

[@NewNetherlandNow]

+wiliam murphy Great, thanks!

[@ansumanchandan2650]

@David Kuijl Why does everyone thinks that America teaches propaganda like North Korea. We are not ignorant.

[@marciadiehl5733]

@@ansumanchandan2650 Yeah we are...

[@ansumanchandan2650]

Marcia Diehl wdym, we don’t have classes on China is evil, Iran is evil, and North Korea is evil.

[@marciadiehl5733]

@@ansumanchandan2650 And so are our public school teachers that only care what their union tells them to teach...which is communist BS and climate change fake science.

[@xxcherrycatsupxx]

2:40 Wall Street runs into Nassau street!! You guys forgot to mention the Dutch House of Oranje-Nassau! Very famous stateholders, including William the Silent!

[@matthewivanjudeponciano1354]

Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Ben ik van duitsen bloed Den vaderland gertrouwe 🎶🎶

[@AudieHolland]

@@matthewivanjudeponciano1354 Yep, of German blood and always loyal to the Spanish king. Untill that Eighty Years War thing.

[@bxdanny]

And one block east of Nassau Street (which is a northern extension of Broad Street) lies William Street. Whether it is named for William the Silent or not, I don't know.

[@bigred9428]

@@bxdanny , I was JUST thinking of that. I used to work on William St.

[@erik_griswold]

The Ken Burns documentary on New York covers the transition. He makes note of a tree that stood from the Dutch times that lasted until the late 1800s.

[@bigred9428]

Barry Lewis used to do tours with Davis Hartman for PBS. He knew so many little details.

[@m00t53]

I love stuff like this. Any time I go to a big city I try to find the older parts to see what it started as

[@brothberg]

You missed the sephardic cemetery near Chinatown. That is a bona fide remnant of the Dutch period. It's still a working cemetery, so you can't take a tour.

[@Luboman411]

That is literally two blocks from where I live. From far away it doesn't look like much--I honestly thought it was an abandoned lot. Then when after living in this neighborhood for 3 years, I took a detour and passed right by it. I stopped dead in my tracks when I read right above its grill door that this little cemetery was founded in 1656. I was like, damn, that's old for this country! And you're totally right--it's right from the Dutch period!

[@murrayaronson3753]

@@Luboman411 Certainly not the building but Marble Collegiate Church and maybe a couple of others date from the period New Amsterdam Reformed churches. The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue Cong. Shearith Israel on Central Park West and W. 70th Street dates from 1654, the oldest in the United States, founded in Dutch New Amsterdam.

[@johnclarke5459]

Words abide: Emma Lazarus anyone: " Give me your tiredm your poor, I lift me light...

[@shevetlevi2821]

@@murrayaronson3753 Thanks Murray. I had thought it was the Touro Synagogue in Newport, RI but you're right.

[@ericsanjuan4901]

Go to Sleepy Hollow New York, Phillipsburg Manor, old Dutch church, Ichabod Crane and the legend of Sleepy Hollow. Great early settlers history!

[@Oldschooldan1]

I am a descendant of the Reverend Guiliam Bertholf the first minister of the OId Dutch Church in Sleepy Hollow. He founded many of the Dutch Reform churches throughout New York and New Jersey, including the church in Tappan, NY where British Spy John Andre was tried for espionage.

[@deansikora7280]

The legend of Sleepy Hollow was written by Washington Irving in 1820. Another good fiction book by Irving was "Rip Van Winkle". Irving was American of English decent. He wrote these books about the Dutch to sort of poke fun at them.

[@tashmoobabe8704]

Russell Shorto's book The Island at the Center of the World is a masterpiece, a page-turner, and a great contribution to retrieving the lost history of New Amsterdam. I absolutely loved it and would have loved to be on this tour.

[@danielspitzer5406]

Thanks for the book recommendation. I will read it.

[@carmencortelyou9463]

I read it when it came out and I agree with you. Maybe it’s time for a third reading.

[@RocRizzo]

If one goes north of New York, to the Hudson Valley, one will find much Dutch influence still there, and some buildings that were made by Dutch settlers there. For instance about 1/4 mile from where I live are three houses from 1669-1709 that were built by the Van Wagenen family, who came from Wageningen. There are streets and even buildings in nearby Kingston, NY that date back as far. Even the names of places like the Binnewater Lakes near here, come from the Dutch. People don't realize it, but once this person realized it, he saw so much that it was beyond belief. I keep finding more and more Dutch influence that is still here in the area each day.

[@omnick69]

Some of buildings and train stations here in Indonesia were made by dutch. I like the building's structure by teak wood with some xxx decoration. It was unique, cozy and warmer than the boring skyscrapers

[@Natadangsa]

super legacy Not some. A lot.

[@peter-w]

Would like to walk through a virtual New Amsterdam there with AR glasses

[@robertfleming2639]

Colin Woodard has an incredible book called American Nations, in which he argues the country is made of 11 distinct cultural regions. He identifies the tri-state area as one of them, and attributes our Dutch heritage for making New York such a unique place. For example, the reason NY is so financially driven is because of our Dutch commercial roots. So, the buildings are gone, but the ethic remains.

[@michielvdvlies3315]

yes they call NY the most Dutch city in the us in ways of culture

[@bigred9428]

I think that's because of Hamilton.

[@arthouse3074]

Last week i was standing in front of the 3D map of New Amsterdam, located close to Staten Island Ferry, see: 5:07. I was disappointed to see this beautiful made bronze monument was covered with small light grey pebbles. Also the text on the ground (written by Mr. Shorto) was hardly readable, also covered with pebbles. It's my intention to bring a small flat BRUSH with me to keep this monument pebble-free, next time I visit New York again. We should take care better for this artwork. This monument deserves more respect! : )

[@bigred9428]

You know, I have been down there at least a hundred times in my life, and I don't even remember that map. Weird, the things I remember and the things that don't register at all.

[@Masterchieftsh]

I'm not Dutch, nor American, but I find this very interesting! It makes you wonder what this piece of land would have looked like if the Dutch never handed it over to the British. The fortification at the lower end would also be a fitting historical landmark if it existed today! Thank you for the video. Historical awareness is always good

[@zezizarjaars]

1:25 I can speak Dutch and I read: "Afbeeldinge van de Stadt Amfterdam in Nieuw Neederlandig" translated to modern Dutch: "Afbeelding van de stad Amsterdam in Nieuw Nederland" translated to modern English: "Image of the city Amsterdam in new Netherlands"

[@Luboman411]

Starting at 0:57. I live about a 15-minute walk from there! OMG, I recognize so much. I did not know that the old Dutch fort is the bankruptcy courthouse next to Bowling Green subway station! (I used to work in bankruptcy for around 2 years, so am familiar with the place.) The Bull statue is right on the old Dutch street north of the fort. Pretty damn cool!

[@briansmith9439]

Excellent series. Antony Jansen van Sallee & Grietje Reyniers were ancestors. One of their houses is visible on the Castello map, on Brugh Straet and that L-shaped lot still exists as a parking lot adjacent to the White Horse Tavern.

[@NewNetherlandNow]

+Brian Smith Thanks! And that's so cool that you know of them! It shows how personal historical awareness can be!

[@timemans3962]

They are in my family tree as well

[@timemans3962]

My first ancestor lived in Gravesend.he married their daughter Sarah

[@bobtonner]

In Madurodam near The Hague in The Netherlands they have a great historical interactive display on the Dutch history of New York. They claim that Wall Street was originally named Waal Straat, named after the great river that flow through The Netherlands

[@MonkPetite]

The reason the “gracht” was made it to ship goods to the storage houses. Large bulk was easily dispersed on small boats. It was part of an infra-structure. And yes the Chanels where not clean.. that became a issue on every city growing bigger. In the Netherlands Amsterdam and so most “Hansen” city had a river stream to flush the channel. ( Hansenstad = is a trading city along the rivers in the Netherlands ) Having on or two channels it worked fine but having more and more and also linkup channels the dirt got trapped. The solution was locks to be opened and closed in timely matter.

[@grip2617]

Excellent correction of what the touristic guide said about the "Gracht" as a sewer only.

[@oskarsrode2167]

The Hanse (without n) cities weren't Dutch, they were part of the Hanseatic league (of trading) based in Lübeck, now Germany, but with partner cities all over Europe. The Netherlands of course had many Hanse cities, as they were close and very much suited for trade.

[@danidejaneiro8378]

What a shame you don't have dozens more videos about this and other Dutch imperial history. I'd love to see more about their Caribbean possessions and their legacy in Brazil. Awesome videos. Thank you.

[@nvdb-77]

If I have done my research correct, one of the old streets of New York or as it was called then (temporarily) Nieuw Oranje, was named after one of my relatives called Jacobus van de Water, one of the first mayors of New York. The street is now called Waterstreet, and ran even further then the Brooklyn bridge. But originally (until around 1900 I believe, have an old post card to prove it) it was called “van de Water-street”. Referring to Jacobus. Very cool to be able to find all this new old info, thanks to the interweb!

[@nvdb-77]

Ron Onderweg , die wikipedia pagina is na mijn post aangemaakt. Wellicht naar aanleiding van mijn reactie hier op youtube?! 😄

[@bigred9428]

I was just wondering about Water Street. We all assume it's because the road is right next to the water, but I just thought, perhaps not. Thanks.

[@reedy2ratchet]

Shame NY didn't do more to preserve all those old buildings after all these years. They should've had an entire district from the 1600's

[@fankdaggot8961]

Yeah, because 400 year old buildings are that easy to maintain.

[@gustavomendoza5926]

D Reedy don't forget the English came in and basically removed any trace of Dutch buildings

[@reedy2ratchet]

Fank Daggot wood brick & mortar would not have been hard to maintain at all. Especially with the money New York has been playing with for the past 200-300 years lol. I'm sure it's a pain in the ass & they tried, just would've been cool to see that's all

[@AudieHolland]

*Gustavo Mendoza* What do you mean? That the English flattened everything then build something entirely new? Rubbish. The English took over, there was not even a fight and Dutch colonists were permitted to keep their posessions. But yeah I guess the English then said: 'But really, these Dutch houses and Dutch canals *just have to go.'*

[@lookoutforchris]

D Reedy that would be completely against the spirit and character of New York. New York is and always has been about one thing: money. Read up about the history of the city if you get a chance.

[@KewhoMin]

I throughly enjoy learning about New York's history. Great video!

[@alexallan-musicaaovivo500]

Great job, Mr.Shorto! Congratulations!

[@lindabrock6800]

I live in Wyckoff, NJ in a very old home that has had many additions but we still have the old beams in the cellar. Would be interested to know if Wyckoff NJ was named from these ancestors in New Amsterdam. Probably so since we are not far from the NYC.

[@tonyjones9442]

Australia was called 'new Holland ' until the mid 1850's I think. (I'm a brit).

[@bigred9428]

Interesting.

[@d.ferdon9664]

My 7th great grandfather was one of the first settlers there, he was also secretary for the dutch west indies company. Jacob Verdon

[@Xenotronic]

I am a born and raised dutch dude and i still find it so funny that when i met some students from Brooklyn in Amsterdam, they were joking with their classmate, because he was ghetto dressed and had no money for the underground or something. Me and my friend as a joke talked in our jiddic/amsterdam accent we said as a joke haha “een klein beetje pauper is oke”. This group of students started laughing and they said you know the word Pauper?? “You have a ever been in brooklyn or something?” I laughed so hard, i passed my joint to them and i said: “i guess we might understand each other better then we think.” Having a family from Amsterdam and Utrecht, i can always connect in a simplified way with New Yorkers somehow. Still feels like magic to me, colonisation is a weird thing hahaha

[@concernedcitizen2910]

These are great, and I am looking forward to more! I had British settler ancestors in my home town of Huntington LI and Dutch settler ancestors in New Amsterdam and New Holland all in the same year, 1653. It's nice to be able to compare my knowledge of what was happening in Huntington with what my Dutch ancestors were doing in New Amsterdam. A whole pile of them settled in what is now Schenectady, NY. I hope to learn more about that history as well. It fits in with my genealogical research. Thanks!

[@NewNetherlandNow]

+Carolynn ni Lochlainn Thanks! I just uploaded a new one! So cool you're one of the descendants of New Amsterdam! Do you know the person's name?

[@concernedcitizen2910]

LOTS of names. Vrooman, Swits, Trommels, Groot, Dutrieux, DeWitt, Andriessen, Freer, Tietsoort, Vredenburgh, Van Etten, Whitbeck/Witbeck, Dekker, Winne, Tappen/Tappan, Schutt. Everybody went to Schenectady.

[@ChuckD59]

Just want to add my 11th Great Grandfather, Harmen Albertse Vedder, emigrated about 1640, went on to help settle Schenectady and Niskayuna. Thanks for the videos NNN!

[@carmencortelyou9463]

My Dutch ancestor arrived in 1652 - maybe they knew each other!

[@SonsOfSevenless]

I find it sad that there's practically nothing left from the dutch period. I'm from montreal, and even though the british took over and you can find statues of queen victoria here, the old french city was still preserved. I mean it's still a french speaking city today!

[@noom1]

It’s true that 400-year-old buildings are still maintained in Montreal, Quebec City and elsewhere. You should thank your lucky stars that when France ceded its territories in 1759, it was the British and not the Americans who ruled here and preserved the French language and culture. If the Americans had won, it would have been a different story.

[@SonsOfSevenless]

@@noom1 you're absolutely right. that's why french-canadian militias resisted americans in 1775-76 and 1812-14. but the british cooperation with the catholic church to control the canadiens was purely pragmatic. they were busy fighting more important conflicts and didn't want to deal with the civil unrest that assimilation would entail.

[@elyenidacevedo1995]

Yeah but back then the big city was full of trees and then people started building more and more buildings

[@aerofpv2109]

I always wondered how and where things were as I walked through lower Manhattan going to work. I truly enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@jamieleeharrison]

If you guys want to visit a town similar to this, that still looks like this, complete with the fort. Visit Saint Augustine Florida. It is the oldest consecutively run European city in America, founded in 1565

[@jacquespotgieter8110]

Wow, the Dutch really liked the name Heerengracht. They had this one in New Amsterdam, there was one in Cape Town and I believe they have one in Amsterdam itself

[@ohhi5237]

its THE name for a main road

[@matthewburden9403]

There is also a Herengracht or Herenstraat in many Dutch cities and in the Caribbean Netherlands and former colonies as Surinam, etc. In Amsterdam you will see the herens fly low thruout the canal network particularly during late afternoons in the delightful Dutch summer. You must read the legend of how the heren was infuential in the founding of Amsterdam by a Norse nobleman and his dog upon landning after a violent storm on the ij. Enjoy Amsterdam!

[@Lunavii_Cellest]

Yep, we are super original with naming things, like with new zealand, totaly not named after the province of zeeland

[@stenbak88]

It’s sad cities like New York and LA really don’t care about their history

[@JRCody-ds3ec]

A city like NYC cares now but in the 19th and 20th centuries preserving history kind of went out the window in favor of growth.

[@unagi4622]

“their history” you mean lenape history?

[@stenbak88]

u n a g i no I definitely do not mean the prehistoric civilizations that were inept

[@dougpassat]

@@unagi4622 shaaaat up you.

[@olcankanicok9125]

American citys care only about the American History's not what was befor america

[@bjjhafer1]

Battery Park was the defensive fort where the Dutch had cannons to protect them from attack, just a short walk away is a street called Stone Street that got its name because it was paved with stones. A man by the name Gysbert Updyke owned a home there. He was highly educated in Germany before taking a position with the Dutch Trading company & helped in the negotiations of the land purchase from the Indian nation that lived in the area. Richard Smith & his family lived the majority of their lives in the Dutch colony using their home in North Kingston Rhode Island as a trading post until the English stole Manhattan from the Dutch settlers

[@cassandraralph5906]

Very interesting and educational video, history was always my favourite and best subject at school

[@loveme8777]

Before the Euro was introduced, you could stay pay with the Dutch coin 'Gulden' in some parts of New York.

[@AudieHolland]

Before the introduction of the Euro as the currency for all of the EU, the Dutch Guilder (Gulden) was connected to the German Mark (Deutsche Mark). Because both German and Dutch economies were strong, both the German Mark and the Dutch Guilder were known as 'strong currencies.' The gulden was accepted in a few other countries as well. I remember that when we ran out of French Francs, the restaurant waiter gladly accepted our guldens ('florins' in French).

[@nonegone7170]

“Before the dark times”

[@dirkarum9703]

@@AudieHolland Officialy the gulden never existed. It was the Hollandse Florijn witch was made of gold (gulden) Changesigns at banks said HFL not gulden.

[@SoloTravelerOffTheBeatenPath]

Before the Euro was introduced, Western Europe was actually affordable..

[@ohhi5237]

@@dirkarum9703 god doesnt exist

[@benplummer7753]

You should do a video on the history of Brooklyn, or Breuckelen in Dutch, from the 1640s.

[@ari-cowan]

Brilliantly done. Many thanks.

[@robertafierro5592]

Wonderful ! I loved every second of this !

[@BassJunkieXL]

Holy cow :D Didn't know that ! Thats so cool and interesting :D greetings from germany :)

[@fantaclaus7053]

The New Utrecht Dutch Reformed Church in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn is among the very oldest in the USA. It was built all by hand, using the ballast stones from the Dutch ships that arrived o Nieuw Amsterdam. It was the first place in NY where the American Flag was raised in 1789.

[@fantaclaus7053]

Also, the Hessian mercenaries spitefully shot at the weathervane atop the church and that artifact exists to this day. The New Utrecht community in the Bensonhurst area was named after Utrecht in Holland. As a boy of eight, I found a worn, copper Dutch coin in the gutter from the 1600s. It said: STAD UTRECHT. Lost it years ago.The settlers were farmers and merchants. They spoke and worshipped in Dutch right up through he Civil War. The second oldest Boy Scout Troop in the country is based at this church. There is a graveyard not far from the church. Many prominent Dutch families interred there from 1600s on. There was slavery. Slaves worshipped in the mezzanine pews above. Their graves were unmarked in the cemetery. Today this congested community is Italian and Chines with Russians and others.

[@bernmcnicholl8345]

Johannes T Polhemius was a pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church 1654 in Bruckelen and Amersport on Long Island. My children's 11x great grandfather.

[@firstlast7719]

That's interesting. Next time I am there I will visit. I am now a Canadian born in Utrecht.

[@ohhi5237]

uh ballast stones????

[@adzijderlaan7070]

@@ohhi5237 ballast stones. They loaded stones in Holland because the ship left empty. Also houses in Cape Town , Malaysia etc. are built with these stones.

[@susanhawk8730]

My ancestor Stephen Ryerson whose family was Dutch came from Brooklyn to North Carolina after the Revolutionary War. Most of my ancestors are from the British isles so I was so happy to find I had Dutch ancestry.

[@fredkuglin9717]

My mothers side of the family left Holland in 1720 and settled in New Amsterdam. There still is a street named after my family called Vanderwater Place , in Manhattan where the original property was located. The Vanderwater's remained Loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution and traveled to the Bay of Quinte Region on Ontario Canada in 1778.

[@michielvdvlies3315]

oh so they were traitors ;-)

[@01ruudjemulder]

Location of the "Bar" "Herberg" "Stadt House" is on about 66 Pearlstreet

[@IamSquirrel]

I love this channel. Thank you. I have 2 lines of ancestors that were there! Johannes Kool and his wife. I can’t pronounce her name. Genealogy is a hobby so this channel is a dream come true. I now know where to go in NY.

[@samb1123]

You might share ancestry with me. My mother's maiden name was Cole but historically has been spelled Cool, Coel, Kohl and Kool. I and many people from my home area in Southern Ontario, Prince Edward County are Descended from Daniel Cole, my 5 greats Grandfather a Loyalist from Duchess County New York. He narrowly escaped being hanged by the revolutionaries and lived to the age of 105. There were 2 waves of Dutch immigration to Prince Edward County. One from New York escaping the Revolution in 1783 and another one from The Netherlands escaping floods in the 1950s.

[@IamSquirrel]

@@samb1123 How exciting! I loved reading your story. We more than likely are distant cousins. My Scottish great grandfather settled in that Fitch colony and married Susanna Kool. They were revolutionaries. His son was killed fighting in the first NY militia against the crown. His son survived and his descendants pioneered across America. I live in the PNW. I am 5th generation. Please share more!

[@anjabronk859]

Althought people claim that Jonas Bronck came from Swede or even the Faroe Islands, I believe that his origin was Dutch. Bron(c)k is a very old Dutch name. We used to write a c before the k in the past (ck). There is a town in the Netherlands called Bronk-Horst (Horst = Higher Ground). This town dated from around the year 900. Jonas Bronck married a dutch girl in Amsterdam named Teuntje Joriaens. So you can asume that he spoke the Dutch language. He called his ship: De brandt van Troye, meaning: The fire of Troy.

[@maximosdevillenous7220]

This is a wonderful videotaugraphy of the Marshall Islands!!! ; )

[@paffie9319]

That old map, looks like old villages here, i'm proud to be a Dutchmen when i read History about my country. Groetjes uit Nederland🇳🇱

[@cardiacmyxoma4073]

P47713 proud of colonialism?

[@patcola7335]

@@cardiacmyxoma4073 What's wrong with colonialism ? Get off your high horse .

[@dond3r183]

​@@patcola7335 @angelaMartin withoud colonialism no New York ... maybe (even) no U.S.A.

[@jelleschelfthout3636]

Without colonialism no Hellenism, no Hellenism means no Western and even Arabic culture.

[@ThePrickTrollSpammer]

There's at least one house left from the New Amsterdam era

[@jacquesaubin4454]

Shorto's book is outstanding

[@michielvdvlies3315]

Great video. i am from the Netherlands. History is important, it links cultural aspects to this present day

[@avilionstars]

ay can we appreciate the fact this video saved us $50 and a lot of walking 👏

[@ripvanwinkle1819]

The west side of michigan was built up historically by the dutch in large numbers and tulips are common.

[@AlexiHarding]

At least some aspect of the original colony is left. Thanks for sharing!

[@mokster5]

Really interesting video! It's fascinating learning about the etymology of these street names. Some ancestors of mine (the Blackwells of Blackwell/Roosevelt Island) owned this bit of land at some point, and now I'm very curious where they fit into the timeline.

[@armandvangeijlswijk7083]

Roosevelt comes from Rosenfelt, old Dutch for "field of roses". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_(name)

[@mbatchelor]

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam, why'd they change it? I can't say...guess they liked it better that way.

[@joehoe222]

mbatchelor Because war

[@williammccoy7127]

mbatchelor it was named after the duke of york ,who had been given it by king charles

[@daringabler8352]

Why did Constantinople get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks!

[@jasonpalacios2705]

Actually New York sounds much better than New Amsterdam.

[@yaelrar.4460]

The British took it over.

[@fantasyfiction101]

I kind of wish is didn't really change. I like the sound of new Amsterdam instead of new York.

[@matt4239]

871 British boy close but not quite, it was names New York after the Duke of York not the actual town of York itself

[@BL-dy3cg]

I hate the sound of "New Amsterdam". Sounds weird.

[@Lupinthe3rd.]

it would and can only work if weed and prostituion was legal

[@sarahshine8035]

I was born in Amsterdam, moved to York UK... and I kind of like the sound of both.. but I'm biased...😉.

[@Raap123]

You have a town in the Netherlands called Nieuw Amsterdam.

[@brento2890]

Fascinating! Thank you for the video. I’m surprised that nothing remains. You would think that something would have been fenced off and said “this is city property. No building here.”

[@mariannelynnlatjow5641]

Thank you for bringing home back to me. I now live in Yuma Arizona for 27 years and I miss home! Being born and raised there would you believe I had no idea of some of these things?! I almost feel ashamed!

[@bigred9428]

How do you deal with not being surrounded by water? I'm just north of the city, and I can't stand it.

[@adithyaramachandran7427]

I'm sure if the Dutch influence were still around, NYC would have Tesla Taxis, state funded healthcare, and an effective high speed rail system to other cities in the region and all 3 major airports. Unfortunately, none of that will actually happen anytime soon.

[@danstrayer111]

they also wouldn't have cops shooting people down in the street.

[@usuario6196]

Actually, there are Tesla uber, in Netherlands healthcare is not funded(totally) by the state,is via insurance, if it was profitable, it would be a railway like you say, and if New York would conserve dutch heritage we would keep a superhabit and a low public debt, and respect for others

[@moneysittintall3611]

Why would there be high speed rail to airports within city limits, that makes no sense

[@Lawnmower737]

@@danstrayer111 they don’t have that, even in our timeline.

[@tehjamerz]

Im still not used to seeing the new WTC

[@securitycameras341]

Condensed, but thank you for efforts. I learned a few things, you got the job done.

[@suqmadic6672]

Great videos! Thx!

[@Maxime_K-G]

The role Belgians played in the settling of New York (well, New Amsterdam) is often overlooked in these documentaries because our nation didn't yet exist at the time. But they were among the first to arrive here. Interresting stuff! Learned about it in the documentary "The Magnificent Three: Amsterdam, London, New York"

[@michielvdvlies3315]

well ppl from flanders are Dutch you just call yourself Belg

[@RianneCtenVeen]

Did you see reference to "Nassau Street" - another reference to NL royal family & why 'un-English' pronunciation of "staten island'

[@beavis5691]

one of the counties on long island is called Nassau

[@hyzercreek]

Nassau County didn't exist until they divided Queens County in half in 1898. Western Queens County became the boro of Queens and eastern Queens County became Nassau. Suffolk was always there.

[@davidcross701]

The outline of the bar... that was so cool for NYC to keep.

[@villavilla4798]

Greetings from Holland 🇳🇱 (The Netherlands) Dank je voor de video Thank you for the video 👌

[@joegaragozzo1640]

New York is astonishing. Too bad there is nothing left of the old days. I live in Toronto and it's pretty much the same. Thank God we still have the old fort from the war of 1812.

[@VeniVidiAjax]

Kind of feel ashamed that i've missed those bronze statues near the ferry. isn't that called batterypark by the way?

[@NewNetherlandNow]

+VeniVidiAjax It's very easy to miss, regretfully. It's basically next to the entrance of the Staten Island Ferry and a little bus station. There's a white little coffeeshop, it's right BEHIND the coffeeshop... (Battery Park is sort-of next-door)

[@TheBikemaster94]

+New Netherland Now Is it really flooding?, I guess west coast will also disappear

[@sway2000]

I just returned from the Staten Island ferry yesterday! Wish I saw it too.

[@danbytp]

VeniVidiAjax Yup!

[@AudieHolland]

Battery comes from the Dutch name for gun emplacement. I guess it was where the guns were placed that protected the harbour from invaders.

[@spitimalamati]

My 11th great grandparents are Joris Jansen Rapelje and Catalyntje Jeronimus Trico. Joris (28 April 1604 - 21 February 1662/63) and Catalyntje (14 July 1605 - 11 Sep 1689) were among the earliest settlers in New Netherland. Joris Rapelje and Catalyntje Trico were married 21 January 1624, at the Walloon Church of Amsterdam. Four days later, on 25 January, the couple departed from Amsterdam, bound for North America. The Rapalje family were first employed at Fort Orange (Albany), but 1626 they relocated to Fort Amsterdam and were among the earliest purchasers of land in Manhattan, later building two houses on Pearl Street near the Fort. They have an estimated 1 million descendants. Hi cousins.

[@rustymiller2811]

Their daughter Judith was my 10th great grandmother.

[@MoltenFungus]

Worked in that building in the 90's and back again.. It's actually a pretty interesting area

[@gnarlykoala]

GrgrGracht! :D

[@talibasnyder3032]

My family, on paternal grandfathers side, came to Gravesend in 1653. It was Hendrick Van Gulick, his wife and two sons. He died shortly after, but the Gulick name lives on.

[@CASHKEZ]

I have a friend, her surname is Gulick aswell! she's dutch

[@danielhesse3882]

Well, I don't know if Snyder is your actual surname, but that is possibly Dutch as well. Snijder would be the Dutch word which means "cutter" and is also an old Dutch name for a tailor(kleermaker).

[@timemans3962]

My ancestor arrived in Gravesend in 1655

[@dannydraait]

This is the most informing video about New Amsterdam I ever saw. Thanks for sharing.

[@tenitri5023]

That close up of the ant really made the video for me 👌🏼

[@stephenmills8812]

Wow, so America really does have a long history of building walls! XD

[@rich-qk7dc]

A very short history compared to China and all of Europe

[@puncheex2]

Indeed, but this is only the Dutch part.

[@NeivGabay]

Stephen Mills yeah. you show'em teddy!

[@bentleyr00d]

Well the Chinese have a wall, and there are hardly any illegal Mexicans in China....so....

[@user-nm9ly3xj1c]

China and Europe built the wall 2k years ago. There was no gun. But When USA was founded, the weapon were more powerful than those of mid age. The walls were useless for defending. After mid age, many EU cities removed the wall. If USA was founded in the mid age, they must have to build the wall. That is not weird.

[@cherylmcdonald1880]

I resent Scorto's comment identify my ancestor as a conspirator. Cornelius Melyn was a patron of Staten Island who invested his inheritaance and fortune into the Dutch West Indies Company. Only to have children killed and all of his possessions lost to the acts of the Indians because of the actions of the prior Director. Then to be banished by Stuyvesant because he demanded his rights as a citizen of the Netherlands, rather than as an "indentured" servant of the DWIC. There is so much more to this story that has not been told. Stuyvesant's second in command on Curacao married Melyn's daughter, which made Stuyvesant feel even more threatened. Melyn lost another child during the ship wreck on the voyage back to Amsterdam to fight Stuyvesant's actions. Not a conspirator but wanting justice for his family and those within his community.

[@charleshallier7853]

Thank you, just plain thank you. So important for this piece of American history that, I’m sure, that most people no nothing of this history, even New York people, I would venture to say that 99.9% of New Yorkers don’t even know. What you are doing is SO important. I’m an Arizonan, been to New York once but I realize how important New York is in the narrative of the building of American continent. These stories need to be told so we don’t loose it. Thank you again ~ Peace ✌️

[@rebeccamd7903]

So interesting!! Last year, I found out I had ancestors from there and Long Island. I never would have thought my hillbilly family had origins in NY, let alone the first Italian immigrant, Pietro Alberti. Thank you for sharing this!

[@kathyastrom1315]

Hi, cuz! Alberti was one of my 10th great grandfathers. I also recently discovered the New York branches of my grandmother’s tree-we always thought her side was just Canadian and British, but it turns out the majority of names on her side were actually Dutch. We had no idea that her family was so firmly rooted in early colonial America, more than 85% of her side had come over to the continent before 1700. Shorto’s book has been a real education for me!