The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America by Russell Shorto in 2004 ¹ is a fascinating book about New Amsterdam (New York City) and, more generally, New Netherland that benefits from a new, more complete, and more accurate translation of original Dutch records from the New Netherland Project.

Henry Hudson in 1609 sailed on an expedition for the Dutch East India Company looking for a trade route shortcut to Asia. This was his third voyage, the first two financed by England. The first attempt to find such a route was to sail directly north. Ice doomed it to failure, of course. The second looked for a north-east passage, which also failed due to ice. England did not step up to fund his third attempt, but the Dutch East India Company did. ²

Hudson's orders were specifically to look for a northeast passage. ³ He ignored the orders after setting sail. He had received a letter from his fellow explorer, John Smith who having interacted with the Indians in North America had rumors of a possible passage through the continent somewhere north of Virginia. ⁴ Hudson convinced his crew to head northwest.

Hudson explored and documented the area around the river that now bears his name. He did not find a passage to Asia, but he found that the area was itself ideal for establishing a fur trade for beaver pelts with the natives, and more.

Hudson's exploration gave the Dutch their strong claim to the area and it was known as New Netherland. Subsequent expeditions by Adriaen Block in 1611, 1612, 1613, and 1614 surveyed and charted the area. ^{5, 6} The mouth of the North River (Hudson River) was chosen for settlement. In 1621 the Dutch West India Company was founded. In 1624 settlers arrived on the ship New Netherland commanded by Cornelius Jacobsen May (for whom Cape May is named) to settle on Nut Island (now Governor's Island). May was named the province's first director.

Willem Verhulst was an employee of the Dutch West India Company and was named the second director of the New Netherland colony. In 1624 it was decided to build a fort on Manhattan Island and to move there from Nut Island.

To be continued in the next installment.