New Netherland Colonial Government

Timeline

1. 1624Fort Orange (upper Hudson River) · New York StateThe Dutch West India Company sent about 30 Walloon immigrant families aboard the ship Nieu Nederlandt to the upper Hudson River, establishing Fort Orange near present-day Albany as a key inland fur-trading post, inaugurating formal construction of the New Netherland province.
2. 1626Manhattan Island · New YorkGovernor Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan Island from the Lenape for goods worth about 60 guilders (24 dollars), founded New Amsterdam at the island's southern tip, built Fort Nassau as the administrative and military center, which quickly became the political capital and trade hub of New Netherland.
3. 1647–1664New Amsterdam · New YorkAfter Petrus Stuyvesant became governor he vigorously reformed the administration and expanded fortifications (the precursor of present-day Wall Street); New Amsterdam's population exceeded 1,500, speaking 18 languages, making it one of North America's most diverse early cities, with trade linking Amsterdam, the Caribbean, and the New England colonies.
4. 1664New Amsterdam harbor · New YorkKing Charles II granted the New Netherland territory to his brother the Duke of York; a British fleet of four warships arrived in New Amsterdam's harbor; lacking troops and ammunition and facing citizen opposition to resistance, Stuyvesant surrendered the city without bloodshed on September 8, 1664, and the colony was promptly renamed New York, ending Dutch rule.