Nieuw Amsterdam: Myth and Meaning in Gotham's Dutch Past

The Dutch colony of New Netherland had a profound influence on what became New York, yet its significance has been obscured by centuries of myth, misinterpretation, and marginalization. Recently, historical research on New Netherland has exploded, thanks in large part to the translation of thousands of New Netherland documents by Dr. Charles Gehring and Dr. Janny Venema of the New Netherland Research Center at the New York State Library. This renaissance in scholarship has yielded new insights and discoveries, making this one of the fastest growing fields in American studies. The purpose of this seminar is to share the new view of New York’s beginnings with a wider audience, and to explore its influence on later American history.

The seminar will be moderated by Russell Shorto, author of the best-selling Island at the Center of the World and Senior Scholar at the New Netherland Institute, and Dr. Dennis Maika, Senior Historian and Education Director at the New Netherland Institute. The moderators will be joined in each session by other New Netherland historians who will discuss their respective areas of specialization in a lively, engaging format.

Tuesdays 5:30-7 PM (ET)
September 28 - November 2
$275 (6 sessions, 90 minutes each)

Russell Shorto is the author of The Island at the Center of the World which recounts the Dutch origins of New York. Shorto has been the New Netherland Research Center's Senior Scholar since 2013.

Dennis Maika is a Senior Historian and Education Director at the New Netherland Institute.

This program is supported as part of the Dutch Culture USA program by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York.