For centuries, the enduring fascination with Dutch art and culture has highlighted the deep historical connections between the Netherlands and the United States, particularly with New York. A relationship rooted in the early 17th century when New York was still known as “New Amsterdam”. This bond is reflected in iconic Dutch contributions, from artistic traditions like Delft faience to the city’s cultural heritage and values.

The Dutch, renowned for their entrepreneurial spirit, were pioneers in global exploration, primarily by sea. Their quest for an alternative, shorter route to Asia eventually led them to the Americas. In 1609, the English captain Henry Hudson (circa 1565–after June 22, 1611), in service of the Dutch East India Company, embarked on a journey aboard De Halve Maen (The Half Moon). His mission was to discover the elusive northern route to Asia.

Rather than pursuing the northeastern route to find a passage along Russia’s northern coast, a path repeatedly obstructed by thick ice, he opted for a westward course along the North American coast. Upon arriving at what is now Staten Island, he encountered a wide river and ventured into it. This river, which now bears his name, is known as the Hudson River. Although it soon became clear that the river was not the long-sought passage to Asia, Hudson was enchanted by the land he discovered. He explored a large island called Manahatta by the local Lenape people, a name commonly interpreted as “hilly island,” which came to be known as Manhattan.(1) The Lenape welcomed Hudson and his crew with generosity, offering gifts that included furs, hinting at the region’s vast potential for trade.

Although Hudson’s mission to find a passage to Asia ultimately failed, his discoveries opened the door to lucrative trade opportunities for the Dutch. By 1614, private merchants had established a trading post in the area, and in 1621 the Dutch West Indian Company (WIC), was established to secure a monopoly on the trade of fur.

By 1624, the area had expanded and become known as ‘New Netherland,’ a Dutch colony that included parts of present-day Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Its capital, New Amsterdam, was established as a fortified settlement on Manhafcomettan and became the primary international harbor.(2) Merchants arriving in New Amsterdam traded a variety of European goods, such as textiles, iron tools, earthenware pots, and alcoholic beverages, in exchange for fur from Native Americans. Due to the harsh winters in Europe, fur, particularly beaver, was in high demand and commanded high prices.

To solidify their claim to the territory, the West India Company (WIC) dispatched two ships in 1624, the Eendracht and the Nieu Nederlandt. Both carrying settlers from Wallonia, a French-speaking region in the Southern Netherlands. Their mission was to cultivate the hinterlands of Manhattan along the Hudson River.(3) These settlers primarily focused on agriculture, aiming to make the colony self-sufficient.(4) Additionally, two ships carrying livestock and farming equipment were sent to support the settlement in and beyond New Amsterdam.(5)

Journals and reports provide valuable insights into the early pioneers and significant events of the time. Two interviews with Catalina Trico (or Tricot) from 1685 and 1688 reveal that she and her husband Joris Jansen Rapalje (or Rapaille) were among the first settlers to travel aboard the Eendracht.(6) The couple’s eldest child, Sarah, is said to be the first European baby born in New Netherland. Together, Catalina and Joris raised eleven children, who eventually established themselves throughout New Netherland.(7)

Catalina’s statements align with those of Pieter Schaghen, a representative of the States General of the Netherlands, who reported two years after the establishment of the first permanent settlements that the colony was thriving. Children had been born, harvests were successful, and, most notably, Manhattan Island had been purchased from the native inhabitants for 60 guilders (see fig. 2, Schaghenbrief).(8)

 

The permanent settlement of colonists required supplies from the Netherlands. Cargo lists reveal that various items, including fabrics, clothing, furniture, livestock, provisions, bricks, and tiles, were shipped overseas.(9) Archaeological discoveries also indicate that household items such as Delftware were among these imports. The extensive archaeological research conducted at several key Dutch colonial sites, including Fort Orange and the Schuyler Flatts along the Hudson River (both in present-day Albany, NY), significantly contributed to our understanding of early Dutch settlements. Fort Orange, the first Dutch permanent settlement in New Netherland, holds particular significance in understanding early Dutch material culture in the Americas.(10)

Although other prominent Dutch figures and their families, such as Adriaen van der Donck, Arent van Curler, and Ryckert van Rensselaer, had lived in the area from at least 1641, Schuyler Flatts was named after the Dutch Schuyler family, who settled there in 1672.(11) Located three to four miles north of Fort Orange, it was along a key route used by Native Americans to transport furs to the fort. This strategic location proved highly lucrative, as it allowed the Schuylers to intercept the finest furs before they reached Fort Orange.912) Due to its location it became one of the busiest spots of New Netherland.(13)

The more than hundred thousand artifacts unearthed from both sites, now housed at the New York State Museum, reveal that Dutch settlers brought with them the latest trends in Delftware.(14) Delft faience was evidently important and popular enough to be transported to America. Dutch ceramics recovered at Manhattan sites are comparable to those at the two previously mentioned sites. Therefore, the artifacts from Fort Orange and the Schuylers Flatts now constitute a body of Dutch evidence that can serve as a standard of comparison for archaeologists and (art)historians in a wider perspective.(15)

An excellent example from Fort Orange that demonstrates the early presence of Delftware in ‘New Netherland’ is a sherd from an armorial plate, dating to around 1650 (fig. 3). This find is not isolated; numerous other artifacts, such as cups, jugs, and all types of plates from the same period have been uncovered. Also included are fragments of a ‘Klapmuts’ bowl (fig. 4), named for its resemblance to a Dutch hat with a flared rim. A similar ‘Klapmuts’ was discovered during archaeological research at ‘De Porceleyne Fles’ (Porcelain Bottle) factory site in Delft, dating to approximately 1650-1670.(16) While it remains uncertain if the ‘Klapmuts’ found in Albany was originally produced at ‘De Porceleyne Fles,’ its presence demonstrates that settlers had access to the latest Delftware fashions. Additionally, sherds of plates featuring a broad white rim and central decoration, very popular in the Netherlands at the time, were found (fig. 5). A comparable plate is in the collection of the Prinsenhof, Delft (Fig. 6). This type of plate was also produced at ‘De Porceleyne Fles,’ as evidenced by a number of archaeological finds at the factory site in Delft.(17)

Fragments of another popular type of Delftware, known as the ‘tulip plate’ (Fig. 7 and 8), have been repeatedly discovered in the former ‘New Netherland’. While these plates were originally inspired by mid-seventeenth-century Chinese Kraak chargers, they represent a slightly later period than the fragments discussed earlier. Tulip plates were produced from around 1680 through the first half of the 18th century. The central decoration on these plates varies, featuring designs such as figures in landscapes, floral motifs, and, occasionally, scenes with one or more ducks or a lion positioned in front of an arch.

Although only a very small selection of sherds are discussed here and the total collection could reveal much more insights; these findings offer a fascinating glimpse into the types of Delftware that made their way across the Atlantic. In general, the artifacts recovered from both sites align with what would be expected of middle-class households. However, the ceramics found at the Schuyler Flatts appear to be slightly more refined than those at Fort Orange.(18) Nevertheless, at both locations, the inhabitants kept up with contemporary trends, as the findings closely resemble artifacts recovered from Amsterdam sites of the same period.(19)

In 1664, the English captured New Amsterdam and renamed it New York in honor of the Duke of York. Despite this change, and the fact that the first settlers were primarily Walloons, the Dutch legacy remains embedded in the city’s identity. Names like Brooklyn (from Breukelen), Harlem (from Haarlem), and Staten Island (named after the Dutch Staten-Generaal, the governing body) all reflect the city’s Dutch origins. Even Wall Street carries a Dutch influence, named after the defensive wall built by the original settlers. Dutch values such as religious freedom and tolerance also continue to shape the city, alongside its enduring commercial character, which can be traced back to the bustling spirit of seventeenth-century New Amsterdam. This legacy also includes a strong connection to Delft faience, which remains vibrant today, with pieces found in numerous private and museum collections. Hopefully, future research will shed more light on the history of Delftware in America and its broader significance.

 

 

 

We are grateful to Dr. Paul Huey, retired director of historical archaeology at the New York State Historic Sites in America and currently a Research Associate at the New York State Museum, for his valuable contributions to this article. Dr. Huey led extensive archaeological research in the 1970s at several key Dutch colonial sites, including Fort Orange and the Schuyler Flatts, which remain milestones in American archaeology. His work has been instrumental in shaping our understanding of Dutch colonial material culture.

 

NOTES

1. Jaap Jacobs, New Amsterdam: “What’s in a Name”, first published on the website of the Dutch National Archives, June 19th, 2022
2. ‘Topstukken Nationaal Archief op Reis naar New York‘, article published by the National Archive, The Hague, March 14, 2024
3. Jaap Jacobs, 2022
4. F. J. Sypher, ‘The First Families’, published online by the New Amsterdam History Center on February 10, 2016
5. F. J. Sypher, 2016
6. Catalina Trico can be seen as one of the ‘founding mothers’ of New Netherland. She provided two depositions before Governor Thomas Dongan, one in 1685 and another in 1688, recounting her experiences as an early settler in New Netherland. She noted that “four women were married at sea” during the passage and, after a brief stay in Manhattan, some settlers moved to the Delaware River. She highlights peaceful relations and trade with Native Americans during her time there. Later, she moved to Manhattan and eventually Long Island. Her daughter Sarah Rapalje, is often regarded as the first child born to settlers in New Amsterdam.
7. F. J. Sypher, 2016
8. Schaghen letter, November 1626, National Archive, The Hague, 1.01.02 Inventory of the archive of the ‘Staten-Generaal’ (States General), (1431) 1576-1796, file 1.01.02,inv. nr. 5751B
9. A. J. F. van Laer, New York State Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, Albany University, Albany, 1908
10. Charlotte Wilcoxen, ‘Dutch Trade and Ceramics in America in the Seventeenth Century’, Albany, 1987, p. 82
11. Wilcoxen, 1987, p. 88
12. Wilcoxen, 1987, p. 89
13. State Museum Acquires Over 100,000 Archaeological Artifacts from Fort Orange and Schuyler Flatts, New York State Museum, published on September 7, 2017
14. Wilcoxen, 1987, p. 90
15. Loet A. Schledorn, Marion S. van Aken-Fehmers, Titus M. Eliëns, Delfts Aardewerk, Geschiedenis van een Nationaal Product. Deel 3 De Porceleyne Fles’, Zwolle, 2003, p.39, Vondstgroep oosteinde F
16. Loet A. Schledorn, 2003, p. 43, vondstgroep Oosteinde K
17. Wilcoxen, 1987, p. 85 and p. 89
18. Wilcoxen, 1987, p. 85

 

LITERATURE

Jacobs, Jaap, New Amsterdam: “What’s in a Name”, first published on the website of the Dutch National Archives, June 19th, 2022

Laer, A. J. F. van, New York State Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, Albany University, Albany, 1908

Schledorn, Loet, Marion.S. van Aken-Fehmers, Titus M. Eliëns, Delfts Aardewerk, Geschiedenis van een Nationaal Product. Deel 3 De Porceleyne Fles’, Zwolle, 2003

Sypher, F.J., ‘The First Families’, published online by the New Amsterdam History Center on February 10, 2016

‘Topstukken Nationaal Archief op Reis naar New York‘, article published by the National Archive, The Hague, March 14, 2024

Wilcoxen, Charlotte, ‘Dutch Trade and Ceramics in America in the Seventeenth Century’, Albany, 1987