Return to the Netherlands Adriaen van der Donck

the jansson-visscher map of american northeast first published van der donck

while in netherlands, van der donck engaged in political , public relations campaigns in addition organizing groups of new colonists new netherland. repeatedly presented case states general opposite representative sent stuyvesant, cornelis van tienhoven.

public relations campaign

the case before states general delayed because of disruptions within dutch government caused william ii of orange. during delay, van der donck turned attention public relations. in 1650, printed remonstrance pamphlet. enthusiastic description of land , potential created excitement new netherland; many eager immigrate ships forced turn away paying passengers. dutch west india company director wrote, formerly new netherland never spoken of, , heaven , earth seem stirred , every 1 tries first in selecting best pieces [of land] there.

to go alongside remonstrance, van der donck commissioned jansson-visscher map of colony. showed new netherland along original dutch territorial claim cape hinlopen south of delaware bay @ 38 degrees start of new england @ 42 degrees , included drawings of typical indian villages, wild game, , town of new amsterdam. map remained definitive map of area on century, cementing many dutch place names. reprinted thirty-one times before mid-18th century.

the states general s decision

apparently, van der donck s decision go public paid off, because in april 1650, states general issued provisional order west india company create more liberal form of government encourage emigration dutch colony. produced final decision in 1652: dutch west india company forced order stuyvesant set municipal government. municipal charter enacted in new amsterdam on february 2, 1653. states general drafted letter in april 1652 demanding recall of stuyvesant netherlands, van der donck deliver director-general.

van der donck prepared return new amsterdam having secured liberal government colony without restrictions of dutch west india company , national support emigrating colonists netherlands colonies. reinstated president of board of 9 , leader in new government.

but on may 29, 1652, before van der donck sail home, first anglo-dutch war broke out, , hopes new amsterdam , unexpectedly fell apart. states general feared experimenting in local government in time of war, , needed close cooperation of west india company (practically branch of military) in struggle, , rescinded decision.

defeated, van der donck tried return new netherland but, demonstrated troublemaker, blocked returning. in meantime, took supremus in jure degree @ university of leiden. still eager promote colony, wrote comprehensive description of geography , native peoples based on material in earlier remonstrance. new book well-crafted interests of audience, consisting of analysis of european claims new netherland, , extensive description of indians , customs, chapter on beavers, and, finally, dialogue between dutch patriot , new netherlander addressing questions of potential colonists.

though finished , copyrighted july 1653, because of war, publication of beschryvinge van nieuw-nederlant (description of new netherland) delayed until 1655. book wildly popular, going second edition next year; however, not published in english until 1841, , in translation eliminated subtleties , reversed intended meaning, editor of modern edition called 19th century translation inept .