The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is to open an exhibition in collaboration with the Dutch National Archive on Thursday displaying the "birth certificate" of New York.
The centrepiece of the exhibition Return to Manhattan - 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage is a letter from Pieter Schaghen a representative of the Dutch States General. The letter, dated 1626, documents the "sale" of Manhattan which was "valued at 60 guilders". It is the only evidence of the historical event as the actual "purchase contract" for Manhattan no longer exists. According to Rijksmuseum historian Martina Gosselink, no money changed hands for the land. The Dutch probably gave the Indians arrows, knives and fabrics. The deal led to disputes as the Indian population did not believe in ownership of the land, air and water. They considered the deal a sort lease for the use of the land.
Mana Hatta
In April 1609, Henry Hudson set sail from Amsterdam on the ship The Half Moon in search of quick passage to the Orient for the Dutch East India Company. Five months later, he discovered a natural harbour as he passed the island Mana Hatta and sailed up the river which would later bear his name. In 1624, New Netherlands was established on Manhattan. A year later the Dutch trading post was renamed New Amsterdam. Eventually, the city changed its name again to New York.
Vingboon's seascape of New Amsterdam approx 1665
400 years
The exhibition, which runs until 1 June, includes the oldest map of Manhattan as an island in 1614 and a famous seascape of New Amsterdam by Johannes Vingboons from around 1665. Return to Manhattan marks 400 years of relations between the Netherlands and New York. It will travel to New York in September.
Tags: Amsterdam , Hudson, New York, Rijksmuseum