Cape Horn, the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, became notorious as a “sailors’ graveyard” because of its strong currents, gales, and frequent storms. It is named for the city of Hoorn in the distant Netherlands. How this came to be is a story that begins in the 16th century.
Most Dutch children--both rich and poor--attended school in New Netherland. Although most families paid a fee to the local schoolmaster, students whose parents could not afford this fee were admitted for free.
Frans de Waal (1948–2024) was a Dutch-American primatologist and author whose research on chimpanzees and other primates reshaped understanding of empathy, cooperation, and conflict in animal and human behavior.
The first colonists lived in square pits, like cellars, that were covered with wood and bark. These simple shelters protected them from the elements until they could build basic cottages. Once New Netherland became more established, colonists built better wooden and later stone and brick houses.
Anthony or Antonius Van Diemen (1593–1645) would doubtless have faded into unremembered history were it not for his fateful decision in 1642 to send the seafarer and explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman (1603–1659) in search of “The Great South Land.”
The Charles W. Wendell Research Grant supports projects on the Dutch in North America or the Dutch Atlantic, offering $1,000–$5,000 for up to six months. Open to all researchers. Applications due February 15. Residency at NNRC encouraged.
Leo Vroman (1915–2014) was a Dutch-born hematologist and poet who settled in the United States and became one of the most celebrated modern Dutch-language poets while maintaining a distinguished scientific career.
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The year 1642 saw the death of Galileo and the birth of Sir Isaac Newton. In England, King Charles I raised his standard at Nottingham to begin that country’s Civil War,
Settlers in New Netherland were a diverse group. Among them were Germans, Scandinavians, French, Scots, English, Irish, Jews, Italians, and Croats. Other residents of New Netherland were born in Africa and brought to the colony as slaves, some of whom were later freed.
