Financial District in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
New Amsterdam Plein: Two
Peter Minuit
Photographed By Larry Gertner, January 23, 2004
1. New Amsterdam Plein: Two Marker
He had grown up speaking German, but his ancestry was French, so his name was pronounced in the French wat – Min-wee. He had no military training, but he was an individualistic, take-charge sort who would alter the course of history by sheer force of will.
Peter Minuit married and settled in the Dutch city of Utrecht, but when, learning of a venture to the New World, went to Amsterdam in 1624 and asked the West India Company for a posting to New Netherland. He shipped out with one of the first groups of settlers. The directors must have been impressed with his wits and energy, for the company ordered the colony’s leader, Willem Verhulst, that “He shall have Pierre Minuyt…and others who he deems competent thereto sail up the river as far as they can in order to inspect the condition of the land.”
Erected by The Kingdom of The Netherlands. (Marker Number 2.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1624.
Location. 40° 42.132′ N, 74° 0.811′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in the Financial District. Marker can be reached from State Street near Whitehall
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. New Amsterdam Plein: Four (here, next to this marker); New Amsterdam Plein : Six (here, next to this marker); New Amsterdam Plein: Eight (here, next to this marker); New Amsterdam Plein: One (here, next to this marker); New Amsterdam Plein: Seven (here, next to this marker); New Amsterdam Plein: Nine (here, next to this marker); New Amsterdam Plein: Three (here, next to this marker); New Amsterdam Plein: Five (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.
More about this marker. The markers are laid into the ground. "Plein" can be translated as "square".
Also see . . . New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on February 21, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Larry Gertner, December 11, 2018
2. Marker locations
The markers are arranged around a bronze relief map of Niew Amsterdam.
Photographed By Larry Gertner, January 23, 2004
3. Bronze relief map of Niew Amsterdam
Photographed By Larry Gertner, January 23, 2004
4. New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion
This was a four-hundredth anniversary present from The Netherlands to New York City.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 29, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 29, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
