For family historians vital records offer the most basic and essential facts about an individual’s life. When researching recent generations we rely on birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates held at local or state offices. Finding evidence to pinpoint these important life events in the seventeenth century, however, can be a considerable challenge.

Wall Street takes its name from the wooden wall the Dutch erected in the 1650s to protect New Amsterdam from potential British or Native attacks. The wall stood near today's Wall Street.

Programs & Events Want to explore New Netherland on your own? The New Netherland Institute and the New Netherland Research Center offer a variety of...

Explore Discover the history and heritage of New Netherland and its lasting impact on America. These curated exhibits explore genealogy, Indigenous and Dutch relations, colonial...