Sometimes, things just happen by accident, according to Gerard Jongerius, Executive Director of the Henry Hudson 400 Foundation.  Susan Tracy, an expat New Yorker, spoke with Mr Jongerius about the genesis of his current endeavour, born from a passion for cartography.

Imagine this scenario:  you are a sailor, and also a collector of maps.  A few years ago, you were browsing in an old, dusty bookshop filled with long-forgotten and neglected tomes.  By chance or serendipity, you stumbled upon a booklet, the diary of the Dutch consul in London from the beginning of the 17th century, and found this journal entry: 1609 – Henry Hudson discovers Manahata.

This journal discovery leads to the idea of organising a sailing race from Amsterdam to New York in the year 2009 – a non-commercial enterprise requiring the creation of a foundation.  This idea gains momentum and shape by conversations with friends who become interested, with one friend going to live in New York.  After a period of time, this friend decides to return to the Netherlands, and another friend recommends that he read a book entitled, New Amsterdam –The Island at the Center of the World, written by Russell Shorto, an American writer and journalist.  He is reading Shorto’s book on the plane ride home and is mesmerised by it, because Shorto researches and writes about the very early period of New York, prior to Peter Stuyvesant’s time there in the 1660s.  In 1609, Manahata, now Manhattan, was only occupied by the Native American tribe of the same name.  Later, the best deal ever made was the Dutch purchase of Manahata for the princely sum of 60 guilders.

 Street signs New York City: One of the many reminders of New York's Dutch roots

Shorto asserts that the DNA of New York is very much influenced by the DNA of Amsterdam (a vibrant city; tolerance; diversity; a spirit of trade), and that Dutch settlers brought to Manhattan these same virtues.  He made a comparison with other American cities such as Baltimore and Philadelphia, both very British in their character.  But New York is different, and there are a lot of similarities between Amsterdam and New York.  Geert Mak, a Dutch journalist and historian, wrote a book on the history of Amsterdam, and was also thrilled by Russell Shorto’s book, because in his mind he totally ‘forgot’ about that period and ‘missed a chapter’ in his telling of Amsterdam’s history.

So, after reading Mr. Shorto’s work, this friend thought there was much more to celebrate than just the1609 discovery. The group of friends reassembled in the Netherlands and started telling everybody that something special could be celebrated in 2009.  Discussions with the City of Amsterdam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yielded understanding, but formally this event could not be considered under diplomatic relations.

The advisory board grew, with heads of corporations becoming involved to the point where a triangle did form: the Henry Hudson 400 Foundation (founded in 2006), the City of Amsterdam, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs combined forces to bring us public events that showcase the unique bonds between New York and Amsterdam.

 The New York version of our Dutch Febo!  © tijsen

Amsterdam-New York themed events in Amsterdam from 1-6 April are as follows:

1 April 2009
Yankee Come Back, at Boom Chicago
A wry look at the relations between the Dutch and Americans:
www.boomchicago.nl/en/

2 April 2009
Cut and Paste, Graphic Design Competition, at Paradiso
This competition originated in NYC and is now for the first time held in Amsterdam:
www.paradiso.nl

3 April 2009
Sneak Preview of Exhibition (in NYC in September), Rijksmuseum
Rare Maps and Documents of Early New York from the National Archives, Den Haag: www.rijksmuseum.nl

Richard Avedon, (American Photographer) Exhibition at FOAM   www.foam.nl

Starry Nights, from the collection of MOMA NYC, van Gogh Museum: www.vangoghmuseum.nl

Special Programmes at the Anne Frank House: www.annefrank.org and the Amsterdam Historisch Museum: www.ahm.nl
 
4 April 2009
Town Hall Meeting, Westerkerk (tickets through the John Adams Institute)
Guests: Russell Shorto, Geert Mak, and Sam Roberts of The New York Times:
www.john-adams.nl/home/

Dance competition for youths aged 12-18 at Escape, Rembrantplein
Winner will join a talent exchange and go to NYC for master classes and performances: www.escape.nl

5 April 2009
Launch of New Amsterdam Historic Trail Walking and Cycling Tours, and Henry Hudson for Kids, Amsterdam Historisch Museum www.ahm.nl

Even Keukenhof is celebrating with a fantastical floral display of the Statue of Liberty.   Check their website for details:  www.keukenhof.nl

Crave a bit of the New York-Amsterdam spirit?  Join in on some or all of the events since there is something for everyone.

Beginning on 1 May, you can also download, 1609 – The Forgotten History of Hudson, Amsterdam and New York, co-authored by Geert Mak and Russell Shorto, available in both Dutch and English, directly from the Henry Hudson 400 Foundation website (www.henryhudson400.com). 

The foundation’s website has an event calendar for both cities and will also provide information on special travel packages to New York when available.  Many more events and activities will take place in New York in September, including a gift bestowed to New York by the Netherlands: New Amsterdamplein, a pavilion in Battery Park, designed by Dutch architect Ben van Berkel.  

It just goes to show what a little imagination can do: Dutch history in New York made visible, for good.  Veel plezier!

Susan Tracy is a writer based in the Netherlands. 

Photo credits:  wichary; tijsen; wallyg

Head photo: Lower Manhattan in 1660, when it was part of New Amsterdam. North is to the right