The unique character of New York City, originally New Amsterdam, was shaped by the legacy of the entrepreneurial and (relatively) tolerant culture of the 17th century Dutch Republic. Today, the Henry Hudson 500 Foundation celebrates Dutch-American history and future by organizing projects and events in the context of three shared core values: freedom, entrepreneurial spirit, and inclusion, which we believe to be the foundation for successful and thriving societies, then and now.
In ‘1609: the Forgotten History of Hudson, Amsterdam and New York’ Russell Shorto and Geert Mak explore how these cities changed the world.
You can download it here – it’s a 2-hour read and one of our top-projects.
The Job Swap is set to become one of the pivotal 2025 commemorative events in both NYC and Amsterdam. Appr. 30 Citizens of all backgrounds, from garbage collectors in Central Park or Vondelpark to the Mayor, and from waitresses to celebrity architects, will engage in a trans-Atlantic job swap. Participants will share their experiences through blogs and other media events. The Job Swap is a concentrated effort in September 2025. The appr. 15 Dutch Job-swappers will work for 5 days in NYC early September, the New Yorkers come to Amsterdam late September.
Background
2025 will witness a unique test of transatlantic relations. A Secretary in New York will be speaking Dutch again and New York fire fighters will apply their renowned skills in Amsterdam. Both cities’ mayors will temporarily switch jobs and so will park rangers, barkeepers, refugees and librarians. Participating job swappers will stay with the families of their counterparts, which turns the experience into a true cultural exchange. Throughout the exchange, participants will be closely followed by local, regional and national media (e.g, NY1, AT5, SBS6, de Volkskrant, New York Times).
We did a very successful JobSwap in 2009 during the Henry Hudson 400-celebrations; you can read the report (in Dutch) here.
This in an invitation to join, mail us at tetterman@gmail.com!
Starting in 2024, visual artists will be commissioned to create artistic interpretations of New York’s founder in a variety of visual art forms: video, animation, projection, hologram, light sculpture, painting, documentaries or performance.
The goal is for the lives and legacies of 16 men and women who founded NYC,
in their artistic interpretation, to inspire us 21st century city-dwellers.
This in an invitation to join Origins, mail us at tetterman@gmail.com!
The Burough of Brooklyn’s Seal is designed in 17th century Dutch: ‘Een Draght Mackt Maght’, or ‘United we Stand’ and ‘E pluribus Unum’ in the ‘Great Seal of the United States’.
In those days people knew that only together progress can be accomplished.
Today we face disunity internally on both sides of the Atlantic, and between Europe, the USA, China and other countries. In view of the many major global challenges this multidisciplinary art-project highlights unity and common good, offering a bridge between the international forest of bubbels. We ask dancers, designers, writers, painters, filmmakers and other artist to come up with ideas that inspire the world to come together.
This is an invitation to join United we Stand – mail us at tetterman@gmail.com
“The Amsterdam 750 expedition (Amsterdam 2019 – 2020)
With the Amsterdam City Archives and Shipping Company “De Nederlanden” we organized a chain of exiting 4-hour expeditions :
– a historic vessel sailed for 2,5 hours along Amsterdam’s canals, where a spirited guide told 11 stories about the cities’ 750-year history on the spots where it happened. How Amsterdam, and later New Amsterdam/NYC, became such highly successful, diverse and progressive cities.
– a visit to the treasure vault of the Amsterdam City Archives.
The chain of expeditions was interrupted by Corona – but we’ll pick up where we left off pretty soon.
Halve Maen on Tour (The Netherlands, October 2016)
In October 2016 ‘Halve Maen’, the replica of Henry Hudson’s famous ship, went on a fifteen-day tour along 6 major cities in The Netherlands to tell the forgotten history of Hudson, the Dutch Republic and New York. A highly successful project by the Westfries Museum and Henry Hudson 500.
Download the program
Our Foundation worked out a special program (including fundraising) for the ship’s visit to Sail 2015 Amsterdam, the world’s biggest nautical festival. (in partnership with the Westfries Museum in Hoorn).
Water Conference “H209 Forum, Water Challenges for Coastal Cities” (NY and NJ, September 2013)
The 2nd edition of this highly successful US Dutch conference with over 325 top delegates. Water Challenges for Coastal Cities, or how to make New York, New Jersey and the Netherlands safe and resilient, was the main theme of H209 Forum. Honorary Chairs and opening speakers were Melanie Schultz van Haegen, Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, and Shaun Donovan, US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Day 1, Sept 9, was a dynamic plenary day at the Museum of Jewish Heritage downtown Manhattan. Day 2, Sept 10, was a day with shirt-sleeve sessions at Columbia University and field-trips to various sites in New York and New Jersey.
One of our most successful and spirited projects ever.
Download the Conference Book with program and background articles here.
Colors of Milk, A Fresh Look at The Netherlands” (The Netherlands, 2011 – 2013)
Inspired by designer/artist Aziz Bekkaoui (photo), Melkkleuren or “Colors of Milk” explored the shared agricultural roots of Dutch and other cultures. With plays, videos, concerts, a book, and a newspaper in the tradition of Andy Warhol’s Interview, Aziz and his group of artists, writers and performers offered a fresh look at the state of the Netherlands in the 21st century. Performances in Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Utrecht, on farms and many other places. Avant garde, way ahead of its time.
Your can read the Newspaper (Melkpers) here, and the Milk Novel (Melkroman) by poet Mustafa Stitou here and writer Tijs Goldschmidt here.
2009 was the 400-year anniversary of Henry Hudson dropping anchor near Manhatten. From the ship’s log, September 11, 1609: then we anchored and saw it was a very fine harbour for all winds’. The Henry Hudson 400 Foundation, then organized in both Amsterdam and New York, produced several major events and has also inspired many groups to plan exhibitions and programs. Our foundation celebrated the venerable bonds between our two countries and our mutual passion for trade, freedom and diversity.
Governing Board:
Chair: Patrick Poelmann, Dike Reeve Emeritus of the Greater Utrecht Area
Treasurer: Vacancy
Secretary: Klaas Pater, Entrepreneur
Members:
Felix Guttmann, Founder Canal Company, CEO Holland International
Dimitri Arpad, Owner at Arpad Advies
Executive Director: Gert Tetteroo
Advisors to Board and Director
Angela Haines, Entrepreneur and writer
Aziz Bekkaoui, Designer
Sarah Cameron Sunde, Directer
We look forward to receiving your questions and suggestions at tetterman@gmail.com