Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Dutch colonization of the Americas

2007-09-14T13:41:22Z

68.175.83.130:

{{euromericas}}
During the 17th century, [[Netherlands|Dutch]] traders established trade posts and plantations throughout the [[Americas]]; actual colonization, with Dutch settling in the new lands was not as common as with settlements of other European nations. Many of the Dutch settlements were lost or abandoned by the end of that century, but the Netherlands managed to retain possession of [[Suriname]] until it gained independence in 1975 , as well as the [[Netherlands Antilles]] and [[Aruba]], which remain within the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]] today.

==North America==
{{Copyedit|date=June 2007}}
{{main|New Netherland|New Amsterdam}}
In 1602, the government of the [[Republic of the Seven United Netherlands]] chartered the [[Dutch East India Company]] (''Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie'', or VOC) with the mission of exploring for a passage to the [[Indies]] and claiming any uncharted territories for the United Provinces.

The VOC's explorers soon led several significant expeditions. In 1609, [[England|English]] explorer [[Henry Hudson]], working for the VOC, attempted to find a north west passage to the Indies. Instead he discovered and claimed for the VOC parts of the present-day [[United States]] and [[Canada]] and lent his name to the [[Hudson River]] and [[Hudson Bay]]. In 1614, [[Adriaen Block]] led an expedition to the lower Hudson in the [[Tyger (ship)|''Tyger'']], and then explored the [[East River]] aboard ''[[Onrust]]'', becoming the first known European to navigate the Hellegat (lit.: Hell Hole, now called [[Hell Gate]]) and to enter Long Island Sound. [[Block Island]] and [[Block Island Sound]] were named after him. Upon returning, Block compiled a map, the first to apply the name "New Netherland" to the area between [[Colony and Dominion of Virginia|English Virginia]] and [[New France|French Canada]], where he was later granted exclusive trading rights by the Dutch government.

After some early trading expeditions, the first Dutch settlement in the Americas was founded in 1615: [[Fort Nassau]], on Castle Island in the Hudson, near present-day [[Albany, New York|Albany]]. The settlement served mostly as a trade post for fur trade with the [[Native American (Americas)|natives]] and was later replaced by [[Fort Oranje]] (in English: [[Fort Orange]]) at present-day Albany. Both forts were named in honor of the Dutch House of [[House of Orange-Nassau|Orange-Nassau]].

In 1621, a new company was established with a trading monopoly in the [[Americas]] and West [[Africa]]: the [[Dutch West India Company]] (''Westindische Compagnie'' or WIC). The WIC sought recognition for the area in the New World - which had been called [[New Netherland]] - as a province, which was granted in 1623. Soon after, the first colonists, mostly from present-day [[Belgium]] and [[Germany]], arrived in the new province. That same year the construction of several fortified trading posts began including the [[Fort Hoop|Fort Huys de Goede Hoop]] (in English, Fort House of Good Hope), now known as [[Hartford, Connecticut]].

In 1626, Director-General of the WIC [[Peter Minuit]] purchased the island of [[Manhattan]] from Indians and started the construction of fort [[New Amsterdam]]. In the same year, another [[Fort Nassau]] (not the one near Albany) was built in the [[New Jersey]] area. Other settlements were [[Fort Casimir]] ([[Newcastle, Delaware|Newcastle]]) and [[Fort Beversrede]] ([[Philadelphia]]). In 1655, the main settlement of [[New Sweden]], [[Fort Christina]], was captured after the [[Sweden|Swedes]] had briefly occupied Fort Casimir. Large numbers of the inhabitants of these settlements were not Dutch, but came from a variety of other European countries, including England.

Fort Huys de Goede Hoop was completed in 1633. By 1636, the English from Newtown now known as Cambridge, Massachusetts settled on the north side of the Little River, now buried under the Whitehead Highway of Hartford. By 1653, the English had overtaken this Dutch trading post.

A significant number of immigrants to New Netherland were Protestants of English or French Huguenot background, including the [[Louis Dubois]] colony, which settled [[New Paltz, New York|New Paltz]], making a private treaty with the local Native Americans to purchase a large tract of land from the Hudson River to the mountains. Later, under English rule, this self-governing colony, ruled by Dubois and 11 others on their unique [[duzine]], continued to prosper and today the village boasts the oldest street in North America with the original stone houses.

In 1664, English troops under the command of the [[Duke of York|Duke of York and Albany]] (later [[James II of England]]) attacked the New Netherland colony. Being greatly outnumbered, Director-General [[Peter Stuyvesant]] surrendered [[New Amsterdam]], with [[Fort Orange]] following soon. New Amsterdam was renamed [[New York]] (from James's English title), [[Fort Orange]] was renamed [[Fort Albany]] (from James's Scottish title).

The loss of the New Netherland province led to the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War]] during 1665-1667. This conflict ended with the [[Treaty of Breda]] in which the Dutch gave up their claim to New Netherland in exchange for [[Suriname]].

From 1673 to 1674, the territories were once again briefly captured by the Dutch in the [[Third Anglo-Dutch War]], only to be returned to [[England]] at the [[Treaty of Westminster (1674)|Treaty of Westminster]].

==Caribbean==
===Netherlands Antilles===
Dutch colonization of [[Sint Maarten]] began in 1620 although the ownership of the island changed hands several times before 1648 , when it was permanently split between [[France]] and the Netherlands. The border between the two portions of the island continued to be modified periodically, before being set for good in 1816 .

Several other islands were captured and fortified to prevent [[Spain|Spanish]] attacks in the ongoing Dutch war for independence from Spain and to exploit timber and salt resources:

* [[Curaçao]] in 1634
* [[Saba]] in 1640
* [[Sint Eustatius]] in 1635
* [[Bonaire]] in 1633
* [[Aruba]] in 1637
* [[Sint Maarten]] in 1620

The [[Netherlands Antilles]] remains an overseas territory of the Netherlands, although it was granted self-rule in 1954. In 1986, Aruba was granted autonomy, separately from the other islands. The status of these islands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands is being revised, loosening the ties between the islands and strengthening the ties with the Netherlands.

===Virgin Islands===
The Dutch established a base on [[St. Croix]] in 1625, the same year that the British did. [[Huguenots|French Protestants]] joined the Dutch but conflict with the British colony led to its abandonment before 1650. The Dutch established a settlement on [[Tortola]] in 1648 and later on [[Anegada]] and [[Virgin Gorda]]. The British took Tortola in 1672 and Anegada and Virgin Gorda in 1680.

===Tobago===
The Netherlands made numerous attempts to colonize the island in the 17th century. Each time, the settlements were destroyed by rival European powers. Dutch settlements on [[Tobago]] existed:
*1628–1637 destroyed by Spanish
*1654–1666 conquered by British and destroyed by French
*1672 destroyed by British
*1676–1677 destroyed by French

==South America==
===Suriname===
The European colony in Suriname was founded in the 1650s by Lord Willoughby, the governor of [[Barbados]]. This colony was captured by the Dutch under [[Abraham Crijnsen]] during the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War]]. On [[July 31]], [[1667]], by the [[Treaty of Breda]] the Dutch offered [[New Netherland]] (including [[New Amsterdam]], modern-day [[New York City]]) in exchange for their sugar factories on the coast of Surinam. In 1683 Suriname was sold to the Dutch West India Company and came to be known as [[Dutch Guiana]]. The colony developed an agricultural economy based on African [[slavery]]. During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], England controlled Suriname from 1799 until 1816, when it was returned to the Dutch. The Netherlands abolished slavery in [[1863]] and imported indentured labour force from the British Indian colonies and from the [[Dutch East Indies]] to keep the economy going. Internal self governance was granted in [[1954]] and full independence in [[1975]]. The prospect of independence prompted many to migrate to the Netherlands, especially from the large Hindustani minority. Political instability and economic decline after independence resulted in even more migration to the Netherlands and also to the USA. The Surinamese community in the Netherlands is now almost as large as the population in the country itself (about 450,000).

===Guyana===

The Dutch West Indian Company built a fort in 1616 on the [[Essequibo River]]. The Dutch traded with the Indian peoples and, as in Suriname, established [[sugar]] plantations worked by African slaves. While the coast remained under Dutch control, the English established plantations west of the [[Suriname River]]. Conflict between the two countries meant parts of the region changed hands a number of times, but by 1796 Britain had control of the region. The Netherlands ceded the colonies of [[Essequibo]], [[Demerara]], and [[Berbice]] to Britain in 1814.

See also: [[History of Guyana]]

===Brazil===
{{main|Dutch Brazil}}

From 1630 onward, the Netherlands came to control a small portion of Brazil, with their capital in Recife. The [[Dutch West India Company]] set up their headquarters in [[Recife]]. The governor, [[John Maurice of Nassau|Johan Maurits]] invited artists and scientists to the colony to help promote Brazil and increase immigration. The Portuguese won a significant victory at the [[Second Battle of Guararapes]] in 1649. By 1654, the Netherlands had surrendered and returned control of all Brazilian land to the Portuguese.

===Chile===
In 1600 , the Chilean city of [[Valdivia, Chile|Valdivia]] was conquered by Dutch pirate [[Sebastian de Cordes]]. He left the city after some months. Then in 1642 the VOC and the WIC sent a fleet of some ships to [[Chile]] to conquer the city of Valdivia and the goldmines of the Spanish. The expedition was conducted by '''[[Hendrik Brouwer]]''', a Dutch general. In 1643 Brouwer conquered the island '''[[Chiloé Island|Chiloé]]''' and the city of Valdivia. Brouwer died on the 7th of August of 1643, and the vice-general [[Elias Herckmans]] took control. Herckmans made two mistakes: First, he let the Indians know that he was looking for [[gold]], thus ending their cooperation. Second, he was soft to his men, eventually causing them to start a mutiny. Because of this, the Dutch left Chile and their newly conquered city, and returned to [[Dutch Brazil]].

==See also==
*[[Atlantic World]]
*[[Dutch Empire]]
*[[Dutch West India Company]]
*[[New York history]]
*[[New Amsterdam]]
*[[New Netherland]]
*[[Netherlands Antilles]]

==Literature==
*Israel, J.I., ''Dutch primacy in world trade, 1585-1740'', Oxford University Press, 1989

{{Dutch colonies}}

[[Category:Dutch Empire|Americas, Dutch colonization of]]
[[Category:History of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Colonization of the Americas]]
[[Category:History of New York City]]

[[de:Niederländische Kolonien]]
[[es:Colonización holandesa de las Américas]]
[[fr:Colonisation néerlandaise des Amériques]]
[[lt:Nyderlandų kolonijos Amerikoje]]
[[nl:Nederlandse koloniën]]
[[sv:Den nederländska koloniseringen av Amerika]]

Dutch colonization of the Americas

2007-09-14T13:41:02Z

68.175.83.130:

{{euromericas}}
During the 17th century, [[Netherlands|Dutch]] traders established trade posts and plantations throughout the [[Americas]]; actual colonization, with Dutch settling in the new lands was not as common as lalalalalalalaaaaaaaaa with settlements of other European nations. Many of the Dutch settlements were lost or abandoned by the end of that century, but the Netherlands managed to retain possession of [[Suriname]] until it gained independence in 1975 , as well as the [[Netherlands Antilles]] and [[Aruba]], which remain within the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]] today.

==North America==
{{Copyedit|date=June 2007}}
{{main|New Netherland|New Amsterdam}}
In 1602, the government of the [[Republic of the Seven United Netherlands]] chartered the [[Dutch East India Company]] (''Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie'', or VOC) with the mission of exploring for a passage to the [[Indies]] and claiming any uncharted territories for the United Provinces.

The VOC's explorers soon led several significant expeditions. In 1609, [[England|English]] explorer [[Henry Hudson]], working for the VOC, attempted to find a north west passage to the Indies. Instead he discovered and claimed for the VOC parts of the present-day [[United States]] and [[Canada]] and lent his name to the [[Hudson River]] and [[Hudson Bay]]. In 1614, [[Adriaen Block]] led an expedition to the lower Hudson in the [[Tyger (ship)|''Tyger'']], and then explored the [[East River]] aboard ''[[Onrust]]'', becoming the first known European to navigate the Hellegat (lit.: Hell Hole, now called [[Hell Gate]]) and to enter Long Island Sound. [[Block Island]] and [[Block Island Sound]] were named after him. Upon returning, Block compiled a map, the first to apply the name "New Netherland" to the area between [[Colony and Dominion of Virginia|English Virginia]] and [[New France|French Canada]], where he was later granted exclusive trading rights by the Dutch government.

After some early trading expeditions, the first Dutch settlement in the Americas was founded in 1615: [[Fort Nassau]], on Castle Island in the Hudson, near present-day [[Albany, New York|Albany]]. The settlement served mostly as a trade post for fur trade with the [[Native American (Americas)|natives]] and was later replaced by [[Fort Oranje]] (in English: [[Fort Orange]]) at present-day Albany. Both forts were named in honor of the Dutch House of [[House of Orange-Nassau|Orange-Nassau]].

In 1621, a new company was established with a trading monopoly in the [[Americas]] and West [[Africa]]: the [[Dutch West India Company]] (''Westindische Compagnie'' or WIC). The WIC sought recognition for the area in the New World - which had been called [[New Netherland]] - as a province, which was granted in 1623. Soon after, the first colonists, mostly from present-day [[Belgium]] and [[Germany]], arrived in the new province. That same year the construction of several fortified trading posts began including the [[Fort Hoop|Fort Huys de Goede Hoop]] (in English, Fort House of Good Hope), now known as [[Hartford, Connecticut]].

In 1626, Director-General of the WIC [[Peter Minuit]] purchased the island of [[Manhattan]] from Indians and started the construction of fort [[New Amsterdam]]. In the same year, another [[Fort Nassau]] (not the one near Albany) was built in the [[New Jersey]] area. Other settlements were [[Fort Casimir]] ([[Newcastle, Delaware|Newcastle]]) and [[Fort Beversrede]] ([[Philadelphia]]). In 1655, the main settlement of [[New Sweden]], [[Fort Christina]], was captured after the [[Sweden|Swedes]] had briefly occupied Fort Casimir. Large numbers of the inhabitants of these settlements were not Dutch, but came from a variety of other European countries, including England.

Fort Huys de Goede Hoop was completed in 1633. By 1636, the English from Newtown now known as Cambridge, Massachusetts settled on the north side of the Little River, now buried under the Whitehead Highway of Hartford. By 1653, the English had overtaken this Dutch trading post.

A significant number of immigrants to New Netherland were Protestants of English or French Huguenot background, including the [[Louis Dubois]] colony, which settled [[New Paltz, New York|New Paltz]], making a private treaty with the local Native Americans to purchase a large tract of land from the Hudson River to the mountains. Later, under English rule, this self-governing colony, ruled by Dubois and 11 others on their unique [[duzine]], continued to prosper and today the village boasts the oldest street in North America with the original stone houses.

In 1664, English troops under the command of the [[Duke of York|Duke of York and Albany]] (later [[James II of England]]) attacked the New Netherland colony. Being greatly outnumbered, Director-General [[Peter Stuyvesant]] surrendered [[New Amsterdam]], with [[Fort Orange]] following soon. New Amsterdam was renamed [[New York]] (from James's English title), [[Fort Orange]] was renamed [[Fort Albany]] (from James's Scottish title).

The loss of the New Netherland province led to the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War]] during 1665-1667. This conflict ended with the [[Treaty of Breda]] in which the Dutch gave up their claim to New Netherland in exchange for [[Suriname]].

From 1673 to 1674, the territories were once again briefly captured by the Dutch in the [[Third Anglo-Dutch War]], only to be returned to [[England]] at the [[Treaty of Westminster (1674)|Treaty of Westminster]].

==Caribbean==
===Netherlands Antilles===
Dutch colonization of [[Sint Maarten]] began in 1620 although the ownership of the island changed hands several times before 1648 , when it was permanently split between [[France]] and the Netherlands. The border between the two portions of the island continued to be modified periodically, before being set for good in 1816 .

Several other islands were captured and fortified to prevent [[Spain|Spanish]] attacks in the ongoing Dutch war for independence from Spain and to exploit timber and salt resources:

* [[Curaçao]] in 1634
* [[Saba]] in 1640
* [[Sint Eustatius]] in 1635
* [[Bonaire]] in 1633
* [[Aruba]] in 1637
* [[Sint Maarten]] in 1620

The [[Netherlands Antilles]] remains an overseas territory of the Netherlands, although it was granted self-rule in 1954. In 1986, Aruba was granted autonomy, separately from the other islands. The status of these islands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands is being revised, loosening the ties between the islands and strengthening the ties with the Netherlands.

===Virgin Islands===
The Dutch established a base on [[St. Croix]] in 1625, the same year that the British did. [[Huguenots|French Protestants]] joined the Dutch but conflict with the British colony led to its abandonment before 1650. The Dutch established a settlement on [[Tortola]] in 1648 and later on [[Anegada]] and [[Virgin Gorda]]. The British took Tortola in 1672 and Anegada and Virgin Gorda in 1680.

===Tobago===
The Netherlands made numerous attempts to colonize the island in the 17th century. Each time, the settlements were destroyed by rival European powers. Dutch settlements on [[Tobago]] existed:
*1628–1637 destroyed by Spanish
*1654–1666 conquered by British and destroyed by French
*1672 destroyed by British
*1676–1677 destroyed by French

==South America==
===Suriname===
The European colony in Suriname was founded in the 1650s by Lord Willoughby, the governor of [[Barbados]]. This colony was captured by the Dutch under [[Abraham Crijnsen]] during the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War]]. On [[July 31]], [[1667]], by the [[Treaty of Breda]] the Dutch offered [[New Netherland]] (including [[New Amsterdam]], modern-day [[New York City]]) in exchange for their sugar factories on the coast of Surinam. In 1683 Suriname was sold to the Dutch West India Company and came to be known as [[Dutch Guiana]]. The colony developed an agricultural economy based on African [[slavery]]. During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], England controlled Suriname from 1799 until 1816, when it was returned to the Dutch. The Netherlands abolished slavery in [[1863]] and imported indentured labour force from the British Indian colonies and from the [[Dutch East Indies]] to keep the economy going. Internal self governance was granted in [[1954]] and full independence in [[1975]]. The prospect of independence prompted many to migrate to the Netherlands, especially from the large Hindustani minority. Political instability and economic decline after independence resulted in even more migration to the Netherlands and also to the USA. The Surinamese community in the Netherlands is now almost as large as the population in the country itself (about 450,000).

===Guyana===

The Dutch West Indian Company built a fort in 1616 on the [[Essequibo River]]. The Dutch traded with the Indian peoples and, as in Suriname, established [[sugar]] plantations worked by African slaves. While the coast remained under Dutch control, the English established plantations west of the [[Suriname River]]. Conflict between the two countries meant parts of the region changed hands a number of times, but by 1796 Britain had control of the region. The Netherlands ceded the colonies of [[Essequibo]], [[Demerara]], and [[Berbice]] to Britain in 1814.

See also: [[History of Guyana]]

===Brazil===
{{main|Dutch Brazil}}

From 1630 onward, the Netherlands came to control a small portion of Brazil, with their capital in Recife. The [[Dutch West India Company]] set up their headquarters in [[Recife]]. The governor, [[John Maurice of Nassau|Johan Maurits]] invited artists and scientists to the colony to help promote Brazil and increase immigration. The Portuguese won a significant victory at the [[Second Battle of Guararapes]] in 1649. By 1654, the Netherlands had surrendered and returned control of all Brazilian land to the Portuguese.

===Chile===
In 1600 , the Chilean city of [[Valdivia, Chile|Valdivia]] was conquered by Dutch pirate [[Sebastian de Cordes]]. He left the city after some months. Then in 1642 the VOC and the WIC sent a fleet of some ships to [[Chile]] to conquer the city of Valdivia and the goldmines of the Spanish. The expedition was conducted by '''[[Hendrik Brouwer]]''', a Dutch general. In 1643 Brouwer conquered the island '''[[Chiloé Island|Chiloé]]''' and the city of Valdivia. Brouwer died on the 7th of August of 1643, and the vice-general [[Elias Herckmans]] took control. Herckmans made two mistakes: First, he let the Indians know that he was looking for [[gold]], thus ending their cooperation. Second, he was soft to his men, eventually causing them to start a mutiny. Because of this, the Dutch left Chile and their newly conquered city, and returned to [[Dutch Brazil]].

==See also==
*[[Atlantic World]]
*[[Dutch Empire]]
*[[Dutch West India Company]]
*[[New York history]]
*[[New Amsterdam]]
*[[New Netherland]]
*[[Netherlands Antilles]]

==Literature==
*Israel, J.I., ''Dutch primacy in world trade, 1585-1740'', Oxford University Press, 1989

{{Dutch colonies}}

[[Category:Dutch Empire|Americas, Dutch colonization of]]
[[Category:History of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Colonization of the Americas]]
[[Category:History of New York City]]

[[de:Niederländische Kolonien]]
[[es:Colonización holandesa de las Américas]]
[[fr:Colonisation néerlandaise des Amériques]]
[[lt:Nyderlandų kolonijos Amerikoje]]
[[nl:Nederlandse koloniën]]
[[sv:Den nederländska koloniseringen av Amerika]]

Dutch colonization of the Americas

2007-09-14T13:40:16Z

68.175.83.130:

{{euromericas}}
During the 17th century, [[Netherlands|Dutch]] traders established trade posts and plantations throughout the [[Americas]]; actual colonization, with Dutch settling in the new lands was not as common as lala with settlements of other European nations. Many of the Dutch settlements were lost or abandoned by the end of that century, but the Netherlands managed to retain possession of [[Suriname]] until it gained independence in 1975 , as well as the [[Netherlands Antilles]] and [[Aruba]], which remain within the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]] today.

==North America==
{{Copyedit|date=June 2007}}
{{main|New Netherland|New Amsterdam}}
In 1602, the government of the [[Republic of the Seven United Netherlands]] chartered the [[Dutch East India Company]] (''Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie'', or VOC) with the mission of exploring for a passage to the [[Indies]] and claiming any uncharted territories for the United Provinces.

The VOC's explorers soon led several significant expeditions. In 1609, [[England|English]] explorer [[Henry Hudson]], working for the VOC, attempted to find a north west passage to the Indies. Instead he discovered and claimed for the VOC parts of the present-day [[United States]] and [[Canada]] and lent his name to the [[Hudson River]] and [[Hudson Bay]]. In 1614, [[Adriaen Block]] led an expedition to the lower Hudson in the [[Tyger (ship)|''Tyger'']], and then explored the [[East River]] aboard ''[[Onrust]]'', becoming the first known European to navigate the Hellegat (lit.: Hell Hole, now called [[Hell Gate]]) and to enter Long Island Sound. [[Block Island]] and [[Block Island Sound]] were named after him. Upon returning, Block compiled a map, the first to apply the name "New Netherland" to the area between [[Colony and Dominion of Virginia|English Virginia]] and [[New France|French Canada]], where he was later granted exclusive trading rights by the Dutch government.

After some early trading expeditions, the first Dutch settlement in the Americas was founded in 1615: [[Fort Nassau]], on Castle Island in the Hudson, near present-day [[Albany, New York|Albany]]. The settlement served mostly as a trade post for fur trade with the [[Native American (Americas)|natives]] and was later replaced by [[Fort Oranje]] (in English: [[Fort Orange]]) at present-day Albany. Both forts were named in honor of the Dutch House of [[House of Orange-Nassau|Orange-Nassau]].

In 1621, a new company was established with a trading monopoly in the [[Americas]] and West [[Africa]]: the [[Dutch West India Company]] (''Westindische Compagnie'' or WIC). The WIC sought recognition for the area in the New World - which had been called [[New Netherland]] - as a province, which was granted in 1623. Soon after, the first colonists, mostly from present-day [[Belgium]] and [[Germany]], arrived in the new province. That same year the construction of several fortified trading posts began including the [[Fort Hoop|Fort Huys de Goede Hoop]] (in English, Fort House of Good Hope), now known as [[Hartford, Connecticut]].

In 1626, Director-General of the WIC [[Peter Minuit]] purchased the island of [[Manhattan]] from Indians and started the construction of fort [[New Amsterdam]]. In the same year, another [[Fort Nassau]] (not the one near Albany) was built in the [[New Jersey]] area. Other settlements were [[Fort Casimir]] ([[Newcastle, Delaware|Newcastle]]) and [[Fort Beversrede]] ([[Philadelphia]]). In 1655, the main settlement of [[New Sweden]], [[Fort Christina]], was captured after the [[Sweden|Swedes]] had briefly occupied Fort Casimir. Large numbers of the inhabitants of these settlements were not Dutch, but came from a variety of other European countries, including England.

Fort Huys de Goede Hoop was completed in 1633. By 1636, the English from Newtown now known as Cambridge, Massachusetts settled on the north side of the Little River, now buried under the Whitehead Highway of Hartford. By 1653, the English had overtaken this Dutch trading post.

A significant number of immigrants to New Netherland were Protestants of English or French Huguenot background, including the [[Louis Dubois]] colony, which settled [[New Paltz, New York|New Paltz]], making a private treaty with the local Native Americans to purchase a large tract of land from the Hudson River to the mountains. Later, under English rule, this self-governing colony, ruled by Dubois and 11 others on their unique [[duzine]], continued to prosper and today the village boasts the oldest street in North America with the original stone houses.

In 1664, English troops under the command of the [[Duke of York|Duke of York and Albany]] (later [[James II of England]]) attacked the New Netherland colony. Being greatly outnumbered, Director-General [[Peter Stuyvesant]] surrendered [[New Amsterdam]], with [[Fort Orange]] following soon. New Amsterdam was renamed [[New York]] (from James's English title), [[Fort Orange]] was renamed [[Fort Albany]] (from James's Scottish title).

The loss of the New Netherland province led to the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War]] during 1665-1667. This conflict ended with the [[Treaty of Breda]] in which the Dutch gave up their claim to New Netherland in exchange for [[Suriname]].

From 1673 to 1674, the territories were once again briefly captured by the Dutch in the [[Third Anglo-Dutch War]], only to be returned to [[England]] at the [[Treaty of Westminster (1674)|Treaty of Westminster]].

==Caribbean==
===Netherlands Antilles===
Dutch colonization of [[Sint Maarten]] began in 1620 although the ownership of the island changed hands several times before 1648 , when it was permanently split between [[France]] and the Netherlands. The border between the two portions of the island continued to be modified periodically, before being set for good in 1816 .

Several other islands were captured and fortified to prevent [[Spain|Spanish]] attacks in the ongoing Dutch war for independence from Spain and to exploit timber and salt resources:

* [[Curaçao]] in 1634
* [[Saba]] in 1640
* [[Sint Eustatius]] in 1635
* [[Bonaire]] in 1633
* [[Aruba]] in 1637
* [[Sint Maarten]] in 1620

The [[Netherlands Antilles]] remains an overseas territory of the Netherlands, although it was granted self-rule in 1954. In 1986, Aruba was granted autonomy, separately from the other islands. The status of these islands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands is being revised, loosening the ties between the islands and strengthening the ties with the Netherlands.

===Virgin Islands===
The Dutch established a base on [[St. Croix]] in 1625, the same year that the British did. [[Huguenots|French Protestants]] joined the Dutch but conflict with the British colony led to its abandonment before 1650. The Dutch established a settlement on [[Tortola]] in 1648 and later on [[Anegada]] and [[Virgin Gorda]]. The British took Tortola in 1672 and Anegada and Virgin Gorda in 1680.

===Tobago===
The Netherlands made numerous attempts to colonize the island in the 17th century. Each time, the settlements were destroyed by rival European powers. Dutch settlements on [[Tobago]] existed:
*1628–1637 destroyed by Spanish
*1654–1666 conquered by British and destroyed by French
*1672 destroyed by British
*1676–1677 destroyed by French

==South America==
===Suriname===
The European colony in Suriname was founded in the 1650s by Lord Willoughby, the governor of [[Barbados]]. This colony was captured by the Dutch under [[Abraham Crijnsen]] during the [[Second Anglo-Dutch War]]. On [[July 31]], [[1667]], by the [[Treaty of Breda]] the Dutch offered [[New Netherland]] (including [[New Amsterdam]], modern-day [[New York City]]) in exchange for their sugar factories on the coast of Surinam. In 1683 Suriname was sold to the Dutch West India Company and came to be known as [[Dutch Guiana]]. The colony developed an agricultural economy based on African [[slavery]]. During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], England controlled Suriname from 1799 until 1816, when it was returned to the Dutch. The Netherlands abolished slavery in [[1863]] and imported indentured labour force from the British Indian colonies and from the [[Dutch East Indies]] to keep the economy going. Internal self governance was granted in [[1954]] and full independence in [[1975]]. The prospect of independence prompted many to migrate to the Netherlands, especially from the large Hindustani minority. Political instability and economic decline after independence resulted in even more migration to the Netherlands and also to the USA. The Surinamese community in the Netherlands is now almost as large as the population in the country itself (about 450,000).

===Guyana===

The Dutch West Indian Company built a fort in 1616 on the [[Essequibo River]]. The Dutch traded with the Indian peoples and, as in Suriname, established [[sugar]] plantations worked by African slaves. While the coast remained under Dutch control, the English established plantations west of the [[Suriname River]]. Conflict between the two countries meant parts of the region changed hands a number of times, but by 1796 Britain had control of the region. The Netherlands ceded the colonies of [[Essequibo]], [[Demerara]], and [[Berbice]] to Britain in 1814.

See also: [[History of Guyana]]

===Brazil===
{{main|Dutch Brazil}}

From 1630 onward, the Netherlands came to control a small portion of Brazil, with their capital in Recife. The [[Dutch West India Company]] set up their headquarters in [[Recife]]. The governor, [[John Maurice of Nassau|Johan Maurits]] invited artists and scientists to the colony to help promote Brazil and increase immigration. The Portuguese won a significant victory at the [[Second Battle of Guararapes]] in 1649. By 1654, the Netherlands had surrendered and returned control of all Brazilian land to the Portuguese.

===Chile===
In 1600 , the Chilean city of [[Valdivia, Chile|Valdivia]] was conquered by Dutch pirate [[Sebastian de Cordes]]. He left the city after some months. Then in 1642 the VOC and the WIC sent a fleet of some ships to [[Chile]] to conquer the city of Valdivia and the goldmines of the Spanish. The expedition was conducted by '''[[Hendrik Brouwer]]''', a Dutch general. In 1643 Brouwer conquered the island '''[[Chiloé Island|Chiloé]]''' and the city of Valdivia. Brouwer died on the 7th of August of 1643, and the vice-general [[Elias Herckmans]] took control. Herckmans made two mistakes: First, he let the Indians know that he was looking for [[gold]], thus ending their cooperation. Second, he was soft to his men, eventually causing them to start a mutiny. Because of this, the Dutch left Chile and their newly conquered city, and returned to [[Dutch Brazil]].

==See also==
*[[Atlantic World]]
*[[Dutch Empire]]
*[[Dutch West India Company]]
*[[New York history]]
*[[New Amsterdam]]
*[[New Netherland]]
*[[Netherlands Antilles]]

==Literature==
*Israel, J.I., ''Dutch primacy in world trade, 1585-1740'', Oxford University Press, 1989

{{Dutch colonies}}

[[Category:Dutch Empire|Americas, Dutch colonization of]]
[[Category:History of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Colonization of the Americas]]
[[Category:History of New York City]]

[[de:Niederländische Kolonien]]
[[es:Colonización holandesa de las Américas]]
[[fr:Colonisation néerlandaise des Amériques]]
[[lt:Nyderlandų kolonijos Amerikoje]]
[[nl:Nederlandse koloniën]]
[[sv:Den nederländska koloniseringen av Amerika]]