About NY400

The USA and the Netherlands: Two Countries, One Spirit, United by Values, History and a Vision of the Future

This website is the official website of the Government of The Kingdom of the Netherlands for the celebrations of NY400.

This year we celebrate 400 years of enduring friendship between the Netherlands and the United States. Four hundred years ago, a Dutch ship called the Half Moon guided to the shores of what is now New York City with Captain Henry Hudson at the helm. This led to the establishment of New Amsterdam and the New Netherland colony. Some 167 years later, in 1776, the Dutch were the first to salute the flag of the United States of America. NY400 celebrates the free spirit, openness, entrepreneurship and tolerance of those Dutch-American pioneers, and their continued relevance today and beyond.

Join us in starting a fifth century of friendship!

Who's working on NY400?

• Minister for Foreign Affairs: HE Mr Maxime Verhagen
• Minister for European Affairs and International Cultural Policy: HE Mr Frans Timmermans is politically responsible for the co-ordination of the input of the Dutch Government into the celebrations.

• Project Leader: Ambassador Eric Niehe
• Deputy Project Leader: Mrs Henriette van Notten
• Ambassador of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in the USA: HE Mrs Renée Jones-Bos
• Consul General of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in New York: Mr Gajus Scheltema
• Director NY400 Team in the USA: Mr Harry Verweij