In the Dutch Atlantic world, the world order and groups within it were visualized hierarchically. This started with the foundation of the colonial trading companies in the early 17th century, and continued until well after the abolition of slavery in 1863.

In October 1657 a meeting of specially-appointed commissioners was held in New Amsterdam, likely in the City Hall. The commissioners were appointed by Director-General Peter Stuyvesant to hear a complaint by a Spanish merchant against Stuyvesant and the council of New Netherland.

Enslaved in New York, Pieter Christiaan built a family, challenged authority, and disrupted village life, leaving a rare and vivid record of power, conflict, and resilience.

In recent years, the enslavement of Indigenous people by Europeans across the Americas has received renewed attention from scholars. However, when it comes to the Dutch colonies, only in studies of the Guiana region does Dutch Indigenous slavery appear as a significant factor.

A closer look at Dutch life in St. Thomas reveals surprising parallels in language, religion, and daily life, offering new insight into the enslaved community of New Netherland.

In 1684 Schenectady, constable and enslaver Jacob Sanders sued Frenchman Matthys Boffie for threatening to poison and kill Pey, an enslaved woman. Boffie claimed a relationship and children with her, offered to buy her, was refused, and allegedly threatened murder-suicide.

In August 1664, the WIC ship Gideon arrived in New Amsterdam with 290 enslaved Africans, doubling the colony’s enslaved population. Though the voyage was momentous, almost nothing is known about those forced aboard or the ordeal they endured to reach the city.

Sources & Citations This digital project, Voyages of New Netherland (1609–1664), offers a richly detailed database tracing roughly 250 voyages of over 150 ships between...

The database records details on voyages of ships that made port in New Netherland for the years 1609-1664. (This period covers Dutch control of New...

This table shows a family of mariners moving up through a sailing hierarchy. The shared patronymic, Reyersz (son of Reyer), indicates that these men may...

Explore New Netherland through its ships—voyages shown by year A Timeline of Voyages to New Netherland This timeline  tells the story of New Netherland through...

The map represents the various routes ships took to get to New Netherland. Thicker lines indicate a higher number of voyages using that route. By...