Research
Resources for Understanding New Netherland
The Research section brings together a wide range of resources designed to deepen the study of New Netherland and its legacy. These categories highlight original records, translations, and scholarly tools that support historical, genealogical, and interdisciplinary research. From digitized seventeenth-century manuscripts to maritime studies and bibliographic guides, these resources provide essential entry points for understanding the Dutch presence in North America and its broader Atlantic context.
Translations and Transcriptions
The New Netherland Institute makes available digitized versions of translations and transcriptions of seventeenth-century records, many damaged by fire and water but still the best sources for understanding the Dutch colony. These include government records from the New York State Archives, private and corporate papers from the New York State Library, and selected documents from other repositories.
Voyages
Between 1609 and 1664, more than 150 ships made roughly 250 crossings between the Dutch Republic and New Netherland. These vessels transported colonists, officials, goods, and correspondence, forming the lifeline of the colony and shaping its history in ways often overlooked. Studying these voyages reveals the rhythms of colonial life and the deep interdependence between Europe and America.
Genealogical Resources in the New Netherland
Find Your Ancestors. Where did they come from? Where have they been? Some may wish to extend their research from New Netherland into the (old) Netherlands. To this end, NNI offers the following pages of resources related to genealogical research in the Netherlands.
Resources and Research Tools
Guides and glossaries that help make seventeenth-century sources accessible, including explanations of period terminology, coins, weights and measures, and nautical vocabulary. Such tools bridge the gap between modern readers and the world of the seventeenth century, making complex documents easier to understand. Explore related materials through the Zotero Library, New York State Library, National Archives of the Netherlands, and the Guide to Seventeenth-Century Dutch Coins, Weights, and Measures.
New Netherland Research Center
Founded in 1974, this center continues the translation and transcription of more than 12,000 pages of Dutch-language administrative records preserved in the New York State Archives and Albany County Hall of Records. Its work ensures that scholars and the public alike can engage with these essential primary sources in accessible English editions.
Awards & Grants
The New Netherland Institute honors exceptional scholarship that deepens understanding of the Dutch colonial experience in North America. Through annual awards, the Institute recognizes researchers whose work enriches the study of New Netherland and highlights its lasting influence on American history.
