Although Dutch rule in North America ended in 1664, their cultural legacy persisted. Washington Irving observed its strong presence in 1820, and even decades later, travelers remarked on the striking similarities between New York and the Netherlands. Today, Dutch influence remains evident in regional place names, legal traditions, religion, food, and folklore—woven deeply into the fabric of American life.

Daniel Myers Van Auken, a Pennsylvania lawyer and Democrat, served two terms in Congress from 1867 to 1871 representing Pike County.

Colonel John Astor, Titanic victim and hotel magnate, co-founded New York’s Waldorf Astoria and died tragically during his 1912 honeymoon.

Steve Van Andel, son of Amway co-founder Jay Van Andel, helps lead the global network sales company distributing household and personal products.

In The Colony of New Netherland, Jaap Jacobs chronicles Dutch exploration and settlement in the Hudson Valley, beginning with Henry Hudson’s 1609 voyage. Though Dutch control ended in 1674, their brief presence profoundly shaped the region’s history, trade, and cultural foundations.

When Europeans first arrived in North America, they faced a cold new world. The average global temperature had dropped to lows unseen in millennia

CULTURAL AUTHORITY AND THE ANGLICIZATION MYTH IN EARLY NEW YORK - Historian Joyce Goodfriend joins Steve McErleane to discuss her career, the evolution of New Netherland studies, enduring Dutch cultural identity, and future directions in interpreting early New York history.

VAN DER KEMP'S NOTORIOUS ATTEMPT TO TRANSLATE THE RECORDS OF NEW NETHERLAND - Historian Peter Van Cleave joins Steve McErleane and Russell Shorto to discuss Van der Kemp’s early translations of New Netherland records, his legacy, and overlooked complexities of 19th-century scholarship.

NEW YORK AT ITS CORE - Author and curator Steve Jaffe discusses the “New York at Its Core” exhibit with Steve McErleane and Russell Shorto, exploring how museums present history, technology’s role, and shifting narrative frameworks.

REVOLUTION SONG - Best-selling author Russell Shorto joins producer Steve McErleane to discuss Revolution Song, the craft of writing, interpreting historical evidence, and reflections on his career as a historian and author.

NEW NETHERLAND AND THE NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM - NNI’s Dennis Maika joins Russell Shorto to discuss 17th-century New Amsterdam merchants, the Dutch West India Company, colonial economic structure, and efforts to elevate New Netherland in New York education.

THE ECONOMY OF SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY NEW AMSTERDAM/MANHATTAN - Dennis Maika joins Russell Shorto to discuss 17th-century New Amsterdam merchants, the Dutch West India Company's economic role, colonial regulation, and Maika’s efforts to promote New Netherland in state education.