Nieuwe Wereld

Italic text On August 27, 1664, at a time of peace, four English frigates sailed into the harbour of the Dutch colony New Amsterdam (now New York City). Without a single bullet being fired, the Dutch surrendered New Amsterdam to the English (however this event caused the Second Anglo-Dutch War). One year later the English reincorporated New Amsterdam into the English-ruled New York City.

In 1667, after the end of the war, the Dutch decided against pressing their claims on their former colony, New Amsterdam. Instead, they decided to take over control of the tiny Island of Run. However, in 1673, the Dutch reoccupied New York City during the Third Anglo-Dutch War, renaming it New Orange. This only lasted for a year though; the English retook control of New York City for good in 1974.

But what if the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam never become New York City? What if the English never took control of New Amsterdam? What if instead of surrendering New Amsterdam to the English peacefully, the Dutch fought back; and won? New York City as we know it today would not exist. Instead a mega-city called New Amsterdam would be the "center of world". And it wouldn't belong to the United States niether