Blog 7: From New Amsterdam to New York: Finding Dutch History in the Big Apple
Bio
My name is Sidar Yilmaz, and I am an International Relations student from the Netherlands, currently pursuing my degree at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kleve, Germany. This fall, I will join the International Center of the Capital Region (ICCR) and Hudson Valley Community College as an international intern. With family roots in Nijmegen, Albany's sister city, I am excited to experience the Capital Region firsthand while learning more about its history, communities, and international connections. During my internship, I look forward to contributing to ICCR's mission while sharing my experiences and discovering the people, culture, history, and opportunities that make New York's Capital Region unique.
Hi everyone,
Welcome back to my blog!
One thing you simply cannot miss when living in the Capital Region is a visit to New York City. Last weekend, I decided to make the trip to the Big Apple! Besides exploring the city, I also attended an event at Cornell. It was a great opportunity to experience another part of New York State. However, I quickly noticed that New York City is a completely different world compared to the Capital Region.
From the famous skyline and busy streets to its different neighborhoods, cultures, and people, there is always something to discover. But as a Dutch person, I found myself looking for something a little different: traces of Dutch history.
A Little Bit of the Netherlands in the Big Apple
During my internship at
ICCR, I have become increasingly interested in the Dutch influence on this part of the United States. In Albany and the surrounding area, references to the region's Dutch past are relatively easy to find. New York City, however, is on a completely different scale. With its enormous size and international character, the Dutch influence is perhaps less immediately visible.
Still, once you start looking, you can find it!
One of the things that caught my attention was the name New Amsterdam, which I came across on a building. Before becoming New York, the city was originally established by the Dutch as New Amsterdam in the seventeenth century. It was part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland, and its history is still reflected in some of the
city's names and places.
I also came across historical remains connected to the city's early settlement. It is quite interesting to think that beneath and between all the modern buildings, busy streets, and skyscrapers, there are traces of a much older history. The city has changed enormously over the centuries, but some parts of its past are still there if you know where to look.
More Dutch Connections Than You Might Expect
Some Dutch connections are actually quite familiar, even if you do not always think about where the names come from. Take Harlem, for example. Its name comes from the Dutch city of Haarlem. Brooklyn is another interesting example, named after the Dutch town of Breukelen. And then there is Wall Street, a name connected to the city's Dutch colonial past and the defensive wall that once stood there.
These are things you might already know if you are interested in Dutch American history but seeing them in person makes it a little different. As a Dutch person walking through New York City, it is quite special to recognize names that you also know from home. It almost feels like finding little pieces of the Netherlands thousands of miles away.
Of course, New York City has developed into a global city with an identity that goes far beyond its Dutch origins. Today, it is shaped by countless cultures, communities, and generations of people from all over the world. The Dutch history is just one part of that much bigger story.
Looking at Places Differently
What I enjoyed most about this visit was realizing how much your perspective can change when you start learning about the history of a place. Before coming to the United States, I probably would have walked past names like Harlem or Brooklyn without giving them much thought. Now, I find myself wondering where certain names come from and what stories are hidden behind them.
It also reminded me of something I have noticed during my internship at ICCR: international connections are not always immediately visible. Sometimes, they are found in a place name, a building, a historical detail, or a connection that has existed for hundreds of years.
New York City might be very different from Albany and the rest of the Capital Region, but both places have something that connects them to the Netherlands. And I think that is one of the most interesting parts of living and learning here: discovering that even thousands of miles from home, there are still little reminders of where you come from.
Have you ever noticed a Dutch connection in
New York or somewhere else in the United States? I would love to hear about it!
Stay in touch as we are going to discover the Capital Region of New York together!
Sidar
