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NY400 Week kicked off September 8, with an impressive ceremony onboard the USS Intrepid. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg officially welcomed Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands to New York City.
400 years after the Dutch ship the Half Moon arrived at what is now New York Harbor, it’s replica lead the flotilla up the Hudson River. The Dutch Navy ship HMNLS Tromp, its crew lined up on deck in parade format, welcomed the fleet with a 21-gun salute. The image of these historic and modern ships jointly sailing up the Hudson River embodies this week's celebration of the history and the future that the Netherlands and the United States share.
‘Henry Hudson arrived on these shores 400 years ago and helped lay the foundation for what would later become New York City’, said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. ‘New York City’s history has early and deep connections with the Dutch, and that relationship continues to flourish. NY400 Week will be a historic celebration of Hudson’s anniversary and New York City’s Dutch ties.’
'The anniversary of the arrival of Henry Hudson and the crew of the Half Moon gives us a chance to celebrate all that New York has been, is today, and will doubtless be in the future', said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. 'Not only the greatest city in the world, which the mayor does not overstate when he says that, but still a beacon of freedom, of diversity, of excitement and dynamism, in the extraordinary collection of those who have called this great city their home over all of these centuries.'
Clinton: 'Before we came out, the Mayor and the Prince of Orange and Princess Maxima and Minister Timmermans and I were all talking, and the mayor made one of his astute observations that if the Dutch paid $24 for New York, that $24 invested 400 years ago could be more valuable than all the real estate in New York. Now I’m glad that they did invest. I’m glad that they took that risk, and I’m very honored to be here to be part of this ceremony.'
In his speech, His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange recalled the small group of men on board the Halve Maen that arrived on these shores exactly 400 years ago: ‘The Dutch Republic had only recently fought for and gained its independence against overwhelming odds. This independence was built on a passion for liberty, on freedom of conscience and on the unwavering belief that everyone has the right to the pursuit of happiness’.
‘These were the values the Halve Maen and all the other Dutch ships that made the same crossing in the years after 1609 brought to these shores and to New Amsterdam. These are the principles on which this great city was built and every New Yorker, regardless of their background, race or creed, will agree that these principles have always been and will always remain its defining characteristics.’ Read the Prince's speech here.
After the Welcoming Ceremony, the Prince and Princess visited Westpoint, where they had lunch with military cadets.
They reviewed cadets marching into the mess hall and were given a standing ovation when they were introduced inside. 'As a Navy officer, I am proud and honored and a bit scared to be here in front of you,' the Prince told the cadets.
After sundown, the Empire State Building was lit-up bright orange by the Royal Couple. As the Prince said earlier that day: Too many people knew too little about our shared history. It was high time to remind them. That's why we've painted the town orange this week - even the Empire State Building will be lit in our national color!
NY400 Week runs through Sunday, September 13. Click here to download the NY400 Week Program Guide.
Photos by Chantal Heijnen
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