Adriaen van der Donk- founder of New York

The Story

Jonkheer Adriaen van der Donk

Jonkheer Adriaen van der Donk. One of the most known-unknowns of Breda. He was born in the impressive house on the corner of Boschstraat and Duivelshoek. Now a retirement home for the Turkish elderly. is parents needed to flee the city because Spinola took over in 1625. He studied law in Leiden.But on the other side of the ocean there was a more and brighter future. Many heard about New Amsterdam and the freedom and opportunities for all. Adriaen took his chance and went by boat to the promised land. Like the Colonel was doing 300 years later.

In New Amsterdam

Adriaen was active in the small community; he studied the Indians outside the settlement but was also active in changing the representation of the many different cultures that were present in New Amsterdam. He had his arguments with director-generals Kieft and Stuyvesant (his wife was also from Breda) in trying to achive this change in the new colony. As a lawyer he was finally able to write the New Amsterdam  charter for all the immigrants living there. In this way all were able to live freely and have a representation in the government. It proved the basis for the liberal democratic and enlighted city that New York still is today. The Dutch multi-cultural tolerance managed to establish itself in the New York culture. Quite an achievement! But like the Colonel no statue. Yet!

Yonkers

Just 10 minutes north of NYC is Yonkers, named after Jonker Adriaen. He had his farm there. In 1655 he was killed by a robbery of the same Indians he studied and defended so much. Shit happens Aad!

 Shirt: rood-wit-blauwe opdruk op anthraciet katoenen shirt met v-hals van 185 g/m2 (lange vezel); 100%  dubbel voorgekrompen, dubbellaagse kraag, schouder tot schouder nekband,  dubbelgestikt.