What Was New Netherland?
What did they own?
Many items in colonial households served multiple purposes. For example, a wooden chest could be used for storage, as a table, a bed, or as a chair. Some colonists had towels, tablecloths, cloth napkins, and cloth diapers. They also owned pewter plates, bowls, and beakers. We know this because Dutch colonists took good care of these possessions and passed them on to family members after death.
Dutch settlers often decorated their walls with maps, prints, and paintings--things to remind them of their former home in Europe. In most households, you would also find a Bible and sometimes other books.
About the New Netherland Institute
For over three decades, NNI has helped cast light on America's Dutch roots. In 2010, it partnered with the New York State Office of Cultural Education to establish the New Netherland Research Center, with matching funds from the State of the Netherlands. NNI is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. More
The New Netherland Research Center
Housed in the New York State Library, the NNRC offers students, educators, scholars and researchers a vast collection of early documents and reference works on America's Dutch era. More
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Dutch American Group (DAG)
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