Online Edition

Vol. 24, No. 4 “De Nieu Nederlanse Marcurius” Dec. 2008

Upcoming Events formal portraits. On January 11 this urban skyline with its fortifications, exhibition will move to the windmills, and church steeples, to Until January 11, 2009. The New Milwaukee Art Museum, and then renderings of daily life along the York Botanical Garden has kicked on to the Rembrandt House canals, in city streets, and town off the holiday season with its Museum in from May squares. Cities depicted include annual “Holiday Train Show.” As 17 through August 9. Amsterdam. , Delft, described in the Botanical Garden’s *** Dordrecht, Middleburg, Hoorn, own words: “Wrapped in the glow Utrecht, Nijmegen, and Rhenen. of twinkling lights, model trains and February 1 until May 3, 2009. The exhibition was organized by trolleys zip along over bridges and Visitors to the National Gallery of the National Gallery of Art and the on winding tracks past scaled Art can also travel back in time Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis replicas of New York landmarks when they visit the exhibit entitled in The Hague, where it is now on made by award-winning designer “Pride of Place: Dutch view until January 11, 2009. Paul Busse. Orange slices, cinna- of the Golden Age.” The booming The National Gallery of Art is mon sticks, poppy pods, pine cones, economy of the Dutch Republic in located at 4th and Constitution and other plant parts are used to the Gouden Eeuw fostered a new Avenue NW, Washington DC create the more than 140 architec- genre of painting: the “.” 20565. Call 202–737–4215 for tural reproductions.” See how many Images of towns and cities more information. Dutch-related houses you can spot! expressed the enormous civic pride *** For more information about tickets of the era. etc. go to: www.nybg.org. The exhibition consists of 46 Until February 15, 2009. On the paintings representing the work of 4th floor of the New York State *** more than 40 artists, including Museum, “Light on New Nether- Until January 11, 2009. Currently, Jacob van Ruisdael, Jan Steen, land,” a traveling panel exhibit the National Gallery of Art in Carel Fabritius, Gerrit Berckheyde, produced by the New Netherland Washington, DC has an exhibition and . Of Institute, consists of 14 two sided devoted to Jan Lievens entitled “A particular interest is Jan van panels arranged in 7 units covering Dutch Master Rediscovered.” Goyen’s 15-foot-long “View of The such topics as Patria, the Dutch Lievens was one of the most fasci- Hague from the Southeast” Seaborne Empire, Ships and th nating and enigmatic of the 17 (c.1650–51), which he painted for Sailing, the Atlantic World, the century Dutch artists. He was a the town hall. West India Company, New Nether- daring and innovative painter, Also included in the exhibition land, New Amsterdam, Beverwijck, printmaker, and draftsman, who are 22 maps, atlases, and illustrated Wiltwijck, Schenectady, Long created a wide range of memorable books offering an impressive survey Island, Patroons, New England, works, from religious and allegori- of the Dutch cityscape, from wide- New Sweden, Sewant, Agriculture, cal subjects to landscapes and angle panoramas depicting the the fur trade, relations with the De Nieu Nederlanse Marcurius 2

Indians, the people of New Nether- held on Saturday, January 31, 2009 Douglas at 518–408–1212 or email land, religion, slavery, family life, beginning at 12:00 noon. The venue at [email protected] education, and the Dutch legacy. this year is the Mansion at Cedar Each panel contains 2–3 graphics as Hill, 1016 River Road (Rt. 144 Publications well, including many by Len between Albany and Selkirk). There Tantillo. will be a luncheon, election of new Everyone who reads this newsletter members to the Board of Trustees, by now must know the name News and a short business meeting. David Russell Shorto, author of The Island William Voorhees, director of the at the Center of the World. Shortly The Royal Embassy Papers of Jacob Leisler Project at before going on tour for his new and the New York Historical NYU will give a talk about the book Russell sent us the following Association have collaborated on journal, de Halve Maen, a quarterly message: “My new book appears in the creation of the New York State scholarly journal devoted to New the U.S. on October 14. As many of Quadricentennial Essay Contest. Netherland studies, of which he has you know, Descartes’ Bones New York State students in grades been editor since 1990. The title of follows the trail of the actual skull 4 to 12 are invited to celebrate New his talk is: “A name dear to every and bones of René Descartes, and York’s 400th birthday by American of Dutch descent”: the also their metaphoric trail, and in so investigating its colonial history story of the Holland Society’s doing sketches what you might call and developing an engaging journal de Halve Maen. a nonstandard pathway through the historical essay. Students are *** modern centuries. The book is part encouraged to explore New nd philosophy, part forensic science, Netherland and learn how the Dutch The 32 Rensselaerswijck Sem- detective story, history, love story... have made a lasting impact on inar, October 1 through October 3, I suppose the ultimate idea was to America’s culture and heritage. 2009 will focus on the “Settlers of remind myself, in the midst of the Three essay titles have been set Rensselaerswijck, 1629–1687.” warring fundamentalisms of our era for different grade levels. Students Thursday evening, will feature a (Islamic, Christian, neocon, atheist), are required to conduct original reception and lecture by a noted how modern society came to be, research and use their findings to historian/author. The programs on and what its strengths and limita- develop their essay, interpreting Friday and Saturday will focus on tions are. A pretty ponderous notion their discoveries and drawing their the history of Rensselaerswijck and in itself, you will say, which is own conclusions about the Dutch genealogical resources for tracing maybe why I found the exotic influence on New York State. The one’s Dutch ancestors both here and approach appealing.” deadline is March 1, 2009. in the Netherlands. There will be an Amazon offers the 299-page Detailed information about the opportunity to tour the replica ship book for $17.16. Its site features an submission requirements and an Halve Maen, visit Albany’s First abundance of reviews and commen- entry form can be obtained from Dutch Reformed Church, and other tary, including a short video of New York Historical Association, Dutch-connected sites in the area. Russell himself talking about Statewide Programs, PO Box 800, We hope many family associations Descartes. will consider having their reunions Cooperstown NY 13326, and on *** their website: www.nyshistoryday. at this time. We have booked a org/EssayContest2009.htm block of rooms at the Hampton Inn Thomas E. Burke Jr.’s 1991 book and Suites in downtown Albany for Mohawk Frontier: The Dutch this event. If you would like more Community of Schenectady, New Save the Dates information or have questions or York, 1661–1710 has been reprinted The 22nd Annual Meeting of the comments, please contact Marilyn by SUNY Press. Amazon is New Netherland Institute will be offering a pre-publication price of De Nieu Nederlanse Marcurius 3

$14.93 before its release date on and New France at Mid Century.” scheduled the next volume of the 2/5/09. The ISBN of the 280-page A personality analysis of Samuel Fort Orange Records for release in paperback is: 1438427069. Champlain was given by Conrad the Spring of 2009; a second *** Heidenreich of York University, volume of “A Beautiful and Fruitful Ontario, Canada, who revealed Place” is nearing completion. The Dutch Down Under: 1606– facts about Champlain’s personal • The New Netherland Project has 2006. Co-ordinating Author— th th and professional life to examine moved to the 10 floor of the Nonja Peters. This 400 “The Skirmish with the Mohawk on Cultural Education Center Building, anniversary publication provides Lake Champlain: was Champlain a but for the immediate future Janny illuminating commentary from ‘trigger-happy thug’ or ‘just Venema will remain on the 8th floor twenty-three academics and following orders’?” along with the New Netherland historians on the socio-economic The winner of the Hendricks related book collection. Marilyn and cultural impact of Dutch Manuscript Award, Willem Frijhoff Douglas and Bonnie Urso now have migration “Down Under” for both of the Free University of Amster- separate offices on the 10th floor, as Australia and the Netherlands. dam, The Netherlands, treated the well as Charles Gehring. All phone Amazon lists the book for $42.80 subject of “Jesuits, Calvinists, and numbers remain the same. with used copies available from Natives: Atti tudes, Agency, and • The Liber Amicorum collection of $25.49. Remember to access Encounters in the Early Christian essays: Explorers, Fortunes, and Amazon via our web site at Missions to the North.” Love Letters, A Window on New www.nnp.org/booksandmore.html At the award ceremony Joyce Netherland is scheduled for a press NNI News Goodfriend of the University of run of 1250 copies. The book will Denver introduced Professor contain 8 color illustrations and is st The 31 Annual Rensselaerwijck Frijhoff who spoke about his due to be released on August 20, Seminar was attended by more than award-winning book, “Fulfilling 2009. 110 people. The theme of the God’s Mission: The Two Worlds of • The first 10 years of the Marcurius September 13 conference was Dominie Everardus Bogardus, and a Guide to Dutch Documents in “Neighbors in the New World: New 1607–1647.” American Repositories is being Netherland and New France.” During the dinner following the scanned for eventual posting on the An international team of seminar, Consul General H. Gajus NNI website. scholars compared the way the two Scheltema of the Dutch Consulate *** nations, France and the Nether- in New York City received thanks lands, carried out their plans to of the New Netherland Institute for The New Netherland Institute colonize in North America and their being a major sponsor of the semi- continues its work of supporting the relationship in the New World. nar. He spoke about the role of the New Netherland Project and under- José António Brandão of Dutch government in supporting writing the 2009 Project. To do so, Western Michigan University, Quadricentennial projects of the foundations, businesses, govern- Kalamazoo, Mich., opened with New Netherland Institute and other ments, and especially individuals “An Unreasonable Offer: Iroquois organizations up and down the are all encouraged to donate. These Policy towards their Huron and Hudson River, in the area then contributions come in the form of Mahican Neighbors,” pointing out known as New Netherland. cash, checks, stocks, bequests, IRA the relationship of the government A DVD of the talks is available distributions, etc. But also please of New France and its Indian allies. for sale from the NNI. keep in mind, when you are plan- James Bradley of ArchLink, ning your year end giving, the Boston, Mass., described the state *** matching gift opportunity that your of the region as he spoke of “In Notes from the October 18 meeting: company might offer. Between Worlds: New Netherland Syracuse University Press has Thank you for your support! De Nieu Nederlanse Marcurius 4

Totidem Verbis

As the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Exchange Bank of Amsterdam approaches, our contributing editor, Peter Douglas, offers the following to commemorate the event and underscore its significance.

The Amsterdamsche Wisselbank were not debased. It was required to international payment systems. By the late th th uphold a high level of stability by 17 century the Amsterdamsche January 31, 2009, is the 400 anniversary maintaining its reserves of coins and Wisselbank was one of the biggest of the founding of the Amsterdamsche precious metals at close to 100 percent of commercial banks in existence, and its Wisselbank (Exchange Bank of its deposits. The bank did not make loans notes of exchange were recognized as valid Amsterdam), and with it the idea of a to the public but mostly operated as a tender everywhere. national bank, modeled on such a bank in service to merchants who were trading in Venice, reached northern Europe. It was The Wisselbank retains a place in history different currencies. Its main contribution the first major public bank in Europe because it proved to be the key to the th to banking innovation was a system of th outside Italy. For most of the 17 century, success of the 17 –century Dutch transfers by checks and direct debits until the founding of the Bank of England economy. It provided the motive power by similar to how it works now. in 1694, its only northern counterpart was giving credit to the city of Amsterdam the Hamburg Bank, founded in 1619. The The Wisselbank’s most vital feature was (which also derived considerable revenue Wisselbank grew into the preeminent that it was a civic bank, not a privately from the bank), and to the Province of th th financial institution of the 17 and 18 owned or managed institution. Central to Holland. One of its great achievements was centuries, and it received praise from the bank’s success was the strong political the furthering of trade through its heavy Adam Smith in his An Inquiry into the support that it enjoyed, and confidence in it financing of the Dutch East India Nature and Causes of the Wealth of rested on the fact that it was controlled by Company; this was founded in 1602 and Nations (1776). the burgomasters and guaranteed by the developed into the world’s largest th city. It was also protected by the power of commercial enterprise in the 17 century. The Wisselbank was created to provide the Dutch state. While private banks In safeguarding a working credit system stability and to facilitate payments in sought profit at every opportunity, the the Wisselbank thus became a critical Amsterdam’s rapidly growing foreign overall objective of the Wisselbank was to component of Dutch power throughout the trade. After the siege and fall of Antwerp stabilize the monetary and banking system “Golden Age” of the Netherlands. It in 1585 in the Eighty Years’ War, more with a view to strengthening Amsterdam as became a model for similar institutions in trade was handled by Amsterdam. In the th a center for foreign trade. With its Middleburg (1616), Delft (1621), and early 17 century the Amsterdam reputation for integrity it acted as a Rotterdam (1635), as well as abroad. The municipal authorities, aware that stabilizing influence by minting high role of the Wisselbank diminished after commercial activity there was being quality coins that had a firm purchasing 1650; this was because London took over hindered by the uncertainties created by the power. Its high creditworthiness and Amsterdam’s position in international circulation of various currencies of liquidity created great confidence. The trade, and because the ban on private banks differing quality, decided to take action. In bank attracted foreign and Dutch capital was lifted, after which private banks 1609 the Wisselbank was established as a and boosted the Dutch national financial regained their share of payment handling. corrective action, the idea being to insulate interests. However, the Wisselbank’s success foreign merchants from the degradation of th continued well into the 18 century even domestic coins. Foreign merchants Because of the dominant position of after Amsterdam’s ascendancy came to an suffered when commercial credits were Amsterdam in international trading, and end. It survived until 1819, having repaid with debased coins, and when the city’s requirement that all payments provided the Republic with over a century foreign trade suffered, Amsterdam exceeding a certain amount were to be of stable prices—then as now, an enviable suffered. The Wisselbank protected foreign settled via accounts in the Wisselbank, the creditors by settling debts through the bank bank’s clearing and settlement system accomplishment. W and offering depositors its own coins that quickly gained a dominant position in