400th Anniversary of New York City

While NYC faces a budget deficit due to the recession and reduced revenue from Wall Street, yesterday marked the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Henry Hudson aboard the Dutch vessel 'Halve Maen' to New York City.

Henry Hudson was greeted by the native Lenepe tribe when he arrived in New York harbor in 1609. In 1626 the Dutch purchased Manhattan Island "Manhatta" from the Native Chiefs for guilders (worth approximately $24 dollars) paid in trading goods, then changed its name to New Amsterdam.

The Dutch colony of New Amsterdam flourished into a modern community of cobblestone streets, fire and police patrols, a hospital, and a protective stone wall that is now called Wall Street. In 1664, the British conquered the colony and renamed it "New York" after the English Duke of York.

The New Netherlanders negotiated 24 articles of provisional transfer with the British which sought to guarantee New Netherlanders liberties, including freedom of religion, under British rule. Manhattan was at the heart of several major battles during the Revolutionary war and served as the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790.

Mayor Bloomberg along with officials from The Netherlands announced a year of special events, exhibits, outdoor activities and performances to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Henry Hudson aboard the Dutch vessel 'Halve Maen' to New York City.

City officials also announced that the celebration of the City's Dutch roots and its waterfront will culminate with a special Harbor Day on September 13. The first ever Harbor Day will feature events and activities including free bike rental and ferry rides to encourage New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy the City's waterfront districts in Manhattan and Brooklyn and on Governors Island.

Harbor Day will become an annual event to recognize and appreciate the progress New York City has made in reclaiming its waterfront and opening harbor parks and greenways, as well as in creating sustainable developments that improve habitats and preserve resources for future generations.

Bloomberg said: "New Yorkers share with our Dutch friends a strong sense of optimism and tolerance, and a great appreciation for diversity, design and innovation. All of these celebrations will give people one more reason to visit New York City this year. Tourism is going to be one of those industries that helps support our local economy during the recession".

A gift presented by The Netherlands Government to New York City, designed by Dutch architect Ben van Berkel of UNStudio, Amsterdam is a 5,000 square-foot Plein & Pavilion, a tribute to 400 years of friendship that will be permanently erected at the Battery in late 2009 and will signify the deep ties between The Dutch and New York City.

The NYC400 Quadricentennial Celebration signifies a commitment to preserving the memory of the discovery of New York City and also an allegiance to valuable and productive political, economic and cultural relations between the City and the Netherlands.

NYC400 Week is September 8 - 13, 2009.

(photo NY Harbor Statue of Liberty view from Battery Park City condo)